Cotton and Pumpkin Thermal Analysis in Floydada, TX

Floydada's agricultural identity splits between 40,000 acres of cotton and 1,500 acres of pumpkins - the state's largest concentration. This creates intense October pressure: pumpkins must be harvested before first freeze (typically Oct 25-30) while cotton requires precise defoliation timing. The area's 3,000-ft elevation brings 15 degrees cooler nights than surrounding areas, accelerating pumpkin ripening but slowing cotton maturity. Thermal imaging reveals crop readiness invisible to visual inspection - internal pumpkin temperature indicates sugar content while cotton canopy temperature shows defoliation readiness.

Before Floydada's annual Punkin Days festival, pumpkin operations could benefit from thermal surveys to identify harvest-ready zones across multiple varieties. Thermal imaging can reveal fields showing optimal 55-58 degree morning temperatures indicating peak ripeness versus those needing more time. The technology also identifies hidden powdery mildew appearing as 8 degree hot spots. Targeted harvest based on thermal maturity mapping can increase marketable yield by 20%+ and reduce labor costs by avoiding premature picking. For a typical 300-acre operation, this approach could prevent tens of thousands in potential losses.