Dateline: March 4, 2004

Boll weevil assessment rate, dates set

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

ABILENE – The Texas Department of Agriculture has established the 2004 assessment rate, due date and discount date for the Northern Rolling Plains Zone of the boll weevil eradication program.

The assessment for 2004 in the NRP is $10 per dry row acre and $15 per irrigated row acre, the rate established by growers and landowners in the original referendum.

Growers with failed acres are eligible to receive a credit of 50 percent of their assessment on those acres destroyed before the final certification date. Qualifying failed acres must remain free of all hostable cotton until a killing freeze to receive the credit.

Assessment notices will be mailed by September 7, and payment is due October 8.

Cotton growers who pay by September 23, 2004, are eligible to receive a two percent discount on their assessment.