Autumn is the time to pick cotton in Texas.

With the drought this year, it may be difficult to find a field being harvested, but if you see one, pull over and watch for a while as the big machines comb the rows, tossing the bolls into huge hoppers. They’ll compress the cotton, bale it, and mark it for the gins.

If there’s a gin in your area, this would be a great time to inquire about a field trip.

Cotton is a major agricultural product in Texas. The simple fact that it may be difficult to find much this year is an indication of how dependent farmers are on water and how much it hurts our economy when there is little rain.