Excerpt: The High Plains is a major cotton producing area. In 1974, the area accounted for almost 20 percent of the total acreage planted to cotton in the United States. Cotton has remained a strong competitor in the enterprise mix of the area since the 1920s. Irrigation farming, a development largely following World War II, has increased agricultural production significantly in the area. In recent years, however, the declining water table and rising costs of irrigation have been major concerns throughout much of the region. This report presents information on the resource base, production practices, and problems affecting farming in the area with emphasis on cotton.