Article: AREA COTTON FARMERS EXPECT A DISMAL YIELD.(BUSINESS)

Byline: LINDA McNATT THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

SUFFOLK -- Last year, Wayland West was one of the top cotton producers in southeast Virginia: 1,300 pounds of fine, long-fiber lint an acre.

Those were the days, West said. This year, like many other area cotton farmers, West is looking at 200 to 300 pounds - tops.

``We always like to be hopeful,'' West said. ``But when cotton stresses like it did this summer, the fruit aborts. The bolls rot. There isn't much hope.''

Cotton is a tropical plant that thrives in hot weather. Local farmers use growth inhibitors to keep the plants low for harvesting. Otherwise, they would grow to the size of small ...

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