LUBBOCK, Texas -
The flooding didn't just impact those inside the Lubbock city limits, those who work on the outside farming cotton are also feeling the runoff waves as the planting deadline looms.
While most on the South Plains got at least an inch of rain this past week, there were several areas that received more than five.
"Unfortunately in some areas we got too much all at once," Mark Brown said.
Mark Brown, Lubbock County's extension agent for Texas Agrilife Extension Service, said it's the intensity of the rains that's affecting cotton growers who got a head start on planting.
"I got one farm left in Lubbock County I got to replant because I planted it back before that first rain when it got so cold," cotton grower Jordan Dorsett said. "Other than that we'll get it replanted."
There is a June 5 planting deadline for Lubbock County growers to qualify for full insurance coverage, but there are alternatives for those who do not make it.
"One good thing there is that there is a seven-day late planting period and producers can come in and still plant but at a reduced coverage rate," Brown said.
Despite the heavy rainfall, cotton growers say the extra moisture will help with this years crop.
"It's been good," Dorsett said, "It kind of slowed us down, but if you don't have rain you don't have a crop."
That slow-down is forcing growers to put in over time to make deadline.
"That's the thing about West Texas farmers... whenever you get in a situation they'll just put their heads down and work harder.," Dorsett said. "We'll start in the morning and quit 10-11 at night. Whatever we got to do to get it in the fifth."
Overall, planting conditions are better than last year. Brown estimated 70 percent of Lubbock county fields are already planted.
"If we look at last year at this same time it's easy to forget but in May of 2015 we had official rainfall of 12.12 inches," Brown said. "So that's higher than what we've gotten this year just in the last few weeks. It was wet during the entire period of May and last year at about May 24th, only about 10 percent of our crop was in the ground and we were still able to get most of that taken care of."
Brown said drivers should watch out for growers moving heavy equipment on county roads this weekend as they finish planting to beat the deadline.
