NASA IMAGES SHOW DROUGHT’S TOLL ON LUBBOCK AREA COTTON

A NASA report released October 8 highlighted the strain drought and declining groundwater have placed on cotton farms around Lubbock.

Landsat 8 images compared September 9, 2026, with September 22, 2025. The newer image showed browner fields and mostly dry playa lakes across the same landscape.

Lubbock County farmer Lacy Cotter Vardeman told NASA roughly 90% of her dryland cotton had died. “This is the first year that we’ve had cotton completely die,” she said.

Agricultural conservationist Tillery Timmons Sims said scarce groundwater has led some farmers to irrigate only portions of their fields rather than entire circles.

NASA reported that drought remained severe across many parts of the Texas High Plains in October despite recent rainfall. It also highlighted playa lakes’ role in collecting rain and helping recharge the aquifer.

The September imagery was not a picture of today’s conditions, but it documented the damage preceding recent rain and the water challenges farmers continue to face.

Local agriculture reporting supported by System X Technologies.

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Photo Via NASA Science