This progress has been made despite serious migration problems in 2002 and 2003, area growers learned at a recent steering committee meeting in Rotan. The steering committee is composed of cotton-producer representatives from across the 22-county zone.
The zone was declared functionally eradicated in February 2002, but weevils migrated into the western part of the zone later that year from an area where cotton producers have not begun an eradication program. The migration continued during the 2003 crop season.
The foundation intensified trapping and treatments, and its actions brought weevil numbers back down.
Two districts, Snyder and Colorado City, accounted for 98 percent of the weevils caught in the zone and 95 percent of the treatments to control them.
Growers also learned that progress had been made in reducing the zone’s debt, but the cost to treat those migrating weevils had prevented further reductions. In the early years of an eradication program, expenses exceed income, so loans are obtained to cover operating costs and to keep assessments low over time.
Foundation officials said the program debt could be paid off if the migration were brought under control and if additional cost-share funds from state or federal source were available.
The officials said they were in discussions with the producers in the areas outside eradication and efforts would be made to obtain additional funding.
At a subsequent board of directors meeting, an additional $5.5 million in cost-share funding was approved to help ensure the zone would pay off program expenses on schedule this year.
Growers from the St. Lawrence zone, which lies to the southwest of Snyder and Colorado City, met with the board and discussed a proposed eradication plan for the area. After the board meeting, the St. Lawrence growers requested the commissioner of agriculture hold a referendum to initia te an eradication program in the zone.