Texas cotton growers looking to reduce seed costs can now take advantage of a new program from Beltwide Cotton Genetics (BCG) promoting cost savings, yield and fiber quality of original seed over saved seed.

The Beltwide Originator Program reduces the cost of two of the seed company’s most popular conventional cotton varieties – BCG-245 and BCG-295 – while also eliminating the hassle and cost of saving seed from one year to plant in the next. Typically, first-generation seed can cost $100 per bag for non-transgenic varieties. While supplies last, Texas cotton growers will only pay $45 for a bag of BCG-245 or BCG-295 to be planted in 2005.

“Original seed like BCG-245 and BCG-295 is ginned and processed, so cotton growers get the genetic purity of first-generation seed without the high price tag,” says Beltwide Cotton Genetics Account Representative Gil Rix of Robstown, Texas. “Plus, I believe Texas cotton growers like doing business with a small family-owned company like Beltwide. Other companies are focused on Wall Street. We are committed to earning the grower’s trust with good products and service.”

Texas cotton growers also have Beltwide’s 100-percent replant protection guarantee with BCG-245 and BCG-295, which are fungicide treated. “Beltwide uses the top-of-the-line seed treatment, which controls all major seedling diseases, whereas most farmer-saved seed is not treated,” said Rix.

BCG-245 is full-season, picker variety with smooth leaves and a spreading growth habit. With micronaire of 4.0 to 4.5, this variety’s staple ranges from 36 to 39 and has a strength of 32 to 34. BCG-245 is well adapted to the wide variety of soil types and environmental conditions in Texas.

BCG-295 is an early medium-season, picker variety that has moderate storm proofness and smooth leaf texture. This tall, compact variety has a staple range of 35 to 38, micronaire between 4.2 and 4.7 and strength of 30 to 32. BCG-295 performs well in irrigated and good moisture conditions.

“Texas cotton growers have come to rely on the proven yields and quality of Beltwide cotton seed,” Rix said. “Now they have two high-yielding, high-quality varieties to select from to increase their profit potential without the risks sometimes associated with saved seed.”

Rix expects Texas cotton growers will likely maintain their normal rotation of cotton acres, except in the Rio Grande Valley, where acres could be down by 15 percent to 20 percent as a result of the Boll Weevil Eradication program in 2005.

Beltwide Cotton Genetics, a division of Lawhon Farm Services, Inc., is a family-owned seed company based in Collierville, Tenn., offering high-quality and high-yielding cotton seed varieties to cotton growers in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

Beltwide Cotton Genetics is a trademark of Lawhon Farm Services, Inc.