Forkner, Roy 1983-06-24
Mr. Forkner discusses the cotton industry on the Plains.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Roy Forkner
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: June 24, 1983
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
Background,
Involvement in gin business, 1941,
Irrigation,
Sunshine Ranch well,
Standards for new wells,
Progressive attitude of farmers,
Financing,
Water depletion,
Effect on Plains agriculture,
Yield increase,
Acreage returned to dry land,
Fuel source,
Natural gas line,
Butane source,
Cotton varieties used on South Plains,
Half and half; Bill Summerhour,
Qualities,
Anecdote: purchasing seed for customers,
Ginning,
Storm proof cottons,
Stripper cottons,
Macha cotton,
Lanka 57,
Lockett cotton, late 1960s,
Proliferation of varieties
Tape 1, Side 2:
Proliferation of varieties (continued),
Effect on area cotton industry,
Acala cottons,
Marketing,
Bob Coker, Coker cottons,
Resistance to single variety planting,
Bracero program,
Open end spinning,
Effect on Plains cotton industry,
Machine classing,
Relationship of growers to textile mills,
Plains Cotton Growers Association,
Contributions,
Boll Weevil,
Legislation
Tape 2, Side 1:
Plant Variety Protection Act,
Non profitability,
Joel Hembree and super cotton,
Decline in cotton breeders,
Hybrid cottons,
Feasibility,
Role of ginners in South Plains cotton industry,
Cooperatives,
Strength on South Plains,
Growth,
Independent gins,
Water importation,
Feasibility,
Potential for change in crops,
Post-War production increase,
Contributing factors,
Increase in irrigation cost
Tape 2, Side 2:
Blank
Range Dates: 1941-1983
Bulk Dates: 1941-1983
Access Information
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Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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