Bill Storey is a broadcaster in Tennessee who stopped by the Beltwide Cotton Conferences. He works for the Tennessee Radio Network. He’s also a photographer so we shared Nikon stories. He says he takes a lot of event photos for Clear Channel that they put online.
Bill says it’s almost impossible to take his picture with a flash and get his eyes open. I guess so. Kind of looks like you’re sleeping on the phone Bill.
He wasn’t though. He was hard at work.
The National Cotton Council and Cotton Board hosted the media with a dinner last night that was the best meal I’ve had at the Opryland Hotel so far. Most of us are leaving this morning as the Beltwide comes to an end.
I want to thank Marjory Walker and Brad Robb for all their help while here and especially for a great dinner. Thanks also to BASF and Quarry Integrated Communications for their sponsorship of my coverage of this year’s Beltwide. A lot of us will be back here in just a few weeks for Commodity Classic. At least some of us will now know our way around the maze.
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by: 
This afternoon I had a chance to meet Dr. Mark Lange, President and CEO of the National Cotton Council. This is him speaking at a lunch earlier today.
I actually interviewed him along with Don Molino, Louisiana Agri-News Network and Keith Merckx, Texas State Networks. Of course Don had to ask Mark about the WTO so we got him on a roll.
He says that with cotton acreage down and looking like it will continue to decline this year one of the challenges in the industry is farm management. Many cotton producers are also growing or looking at growing other commodities like wheat and therefore there’s a need to help them deal with a diverse crop. He wouldn’t really make a prediction about acreage decline but said he wouldn’t be surprised to see it be 10 to 12% this year.
Download my interview with Dr. Mark Lange here: Dr. Mark Lange Interview (8 min mp3)
You can also listen to the interview with Mark immediately here:
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Marketing Manager for Headline for BASF is Jerry Minore (right). He was working the booth this morning and from the sound of it the traffic has been heavy with growers wanting to know about this new fungicide tool.
I know I’ve posted several interviews about Headline but in this one I got Jerry to talk a little bit about the history of the product. For example, he says that they introduced it in 2003 for use on wheat, potatoes, peanuts, sugar beets and citrus. Then in 2005 it got registration for corn and soybeans. Then late last fall for cotton.
Download my interview with Jerry Minore here: Jerry Minore Interview (3 min mp3)
You can also listen to the interview with Jerry immediately here:
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
One of the participants in our media round table on sustainability was Berrye Worsham, President & CEO of Cotton Incorporated. Thanks to my good friend Brad Robb I was able to interview Barrye today.
He says that one of the key challenges for marketing cotton today is that word, sustainability, especially from an environmental standpoint. For one thing he says that cotton has had a negative image in this area due to some very outdated and mis-information. So one of the things they’re doing is working to overcome that hurdle.
Another participant in the session was Peter McGrath with J.C. Penney Company. He told us that this is not a fad that will go away soon. So Barrye says that it’s important to know what retailers want since they’re being proactive in making sure that the products they sell adhere to good environmental practices. He says that it’s not that consumers are demanding it but that they assume that companies are acting responsibly.
Some of the ways Cotton, Inc. is communicating it’s message includes surveying farmers for data that can be used to support claims of environmental responsibility and the conducting of one on one meetings with manufacturers and retailers, re-designing their website and doing some industry advertising.
Download my interview with Barrye Worsham here: Barry Worsham Interview (6 min mp3)
You can also listen to the interview with Barrye immediately here:
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Beltwide poster board session is open for viewing.
I’ve got to say that I’ve never really understood the value of posters. However, they’re still very much in use and by many organizations. I guess it just seems to me that there are other ways to accomplish the purpose in terms of information transfer.
However, if I was to do a poster I’d use the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid). Sometimes they get so crammed with information that they’re like some billboards you see. They’re there but you don’t have time to read them.
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
I’m really not sure what to make of this.
I guess you’d call it a walking vine maybe. There’s actually a person under those leaves and she(?) is on stilts. Every once in a while she moves around in sort of a vine clinging way. I know, I should have shot some video of it and maybe I still will.
Once thing’s for sure. It creates a crowd real quick when it starts moving.
I’ll bet it’s one of the most photographed things in the hotel today.
I saw it at lunch today and I like the comment I heard which was something like, “I would hate to see the bushes moving on my way back to the room after attending a late night reception!”
Yes that would be something you’d probably have a problem with. I think that some of the growers here who were partying pretty late may have still seen some of the foliage moving even without a person inside.
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
The Manager of Cotton Agronomy, Soils and Physiology for the National Cotton Council is Bill Robertson. He’s been with the Council for about a year. Coordinating the Beltwide is one of his duties.
He says that he’s also working on reviving the Cotton Physiology Education Program and that one of the key components of that is the Cotton Physiology Today newsletter. I asked him if he’d thought about blogging on the subject. Just an idea. Gotta keep planting the seeds.
Anyway, we did an interview a little while ago so you can learn more about what the Council is doing in terms of education opportunities for growers.
Download my interview with Bill Robertson here: Bill Robertson Interview (12 min mp3)
You can also listen to the interview with Bill immediately here:
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
One of the exhibitors here at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences is John Deere for whom we manage their Precision Pays website. So it was a great opportunity to find out about what they’ve got new for cotton producers. I spoke with Jamie Flood, Product Marketing Manager, just as the trade show was kicking off.
Of course John Deere has their new self-propelled cotton picker which was announced at their product launch last fall. Jamie explains how that machine fits into a precision management plan. He also says that the equipment is meant to simplify a producer’s operation and that he’s heard very positive and good interest from growers who are looking at it.
Download my interview with Jamie Flood here: Jamie Flood Interview (3 min mp3)
You can also listen to the interview with Jamie immediately here:
You can also watch the interview if you’d like as well:
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
I sat in on the Cotton Board’s media roundtable this afternoon but couldn’t stay to interview the participants. However, it was fascinating.
The topic was “How Sustainability is Impacting Every Stop in Cotton’s Pipeline.” Doesn’t sound particularly exciting but one of the speakers was Peter McGrath, EVP of J.C. Penney Company. It was an eye opener to hear him talk about how the company is proactively taking becoming green very seriously. They’re such a huge retailer that they are dictating how their suppliers do their business. For example, he says they tell manufacturers of cotton shirts what kind of dyes they’re allowed to use. He even said that they’re working to enforce water quality laws. That’s what I thought government did.
It was very interesting. I’m still hoping to get an interview sometime if possible. I think it’s something growers need to hear and know. By the way, Peter sits on the Cotton Board.
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
Ben Morgan is the Executive Vice President of the National Cottonseed Products Association. He’s here taking a break from the Cottonseed Oil Comeback Tour.
The Tour is really a virtual tour they’re doing with a website that includes a blog! In my interview Ben talks about what the organization does and this project.
Download my interview with Ben Morgan here: Ben Morgan Interview (6 min mp3)
You can also listen to the interview with Ben immediately here:
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
It seems like Headline has made headlines for BASF and that’s brought in a lot of growers to their booth here at the Beltwide trade show.
This isn’t all of the crew here but most of them right before the show got started today. I did a couple interviews in their booth including the following one with Tom McKemie, BASF eastern area representative. In it he talks about some of the field trials that have been done over the last couple of years.
Download my interview with Tom McKemie here: Tom Mckemie Interview (3 min mp3)
You can also listen to the interview with Tom immediately here:
You can also watch the interview if you’d like as well:
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The trade show got started here at noon today at the Beltwide. To see what’s it’s like feel free to watch the video. It’s a walk through right as things were getting started.
This afternoon there have been a couple of press conferences. The pace here seems kind of slow and relaxed compared to many of the meetings I attend. I think that’s a good thing. That doesn’t mean I don’t have any content to post. I’m working on a few more video interviews and have several scheduled yet this afternoon.
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
The media here at Beltwide were treated to a great reception last night, sponsored by Monsanto/DP&L. A real treat on the menu was the sushi. Yes, sushi in Nashville. There’s actually a sushi bar in the Opryland Hotel. I don’t remember that from my last visit. This place is constantly changing.
Here’s the Cotton Council’s communications man greeting us. If you’re going to work in this business why not have the name. He’s Cotton Nelson and he works with our good friend Marjory Walker who’s been getting the media checked in here in the news room.
The program really kicks off in high gear today, including the trade show. I’ll have a lot more pictures and interviews over the next several days as we learn about what’s new in Cotton’s world.
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
One of the cool things that my sponsor is doing here at Beltwide is making the electronic personal scheduler available. This is a very busy conference. It’s one of those ones where there’s way more to do than you have time to do it. So you have to plan your time.
To make it easier you can go to one of these terminals, create an account, create your schedule and print it out or make a file you can download to your pda or phone. Then you’ve got your very own Beltwide schedule.
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
In Missouri you have to have a state license tag on both front and back of your vehicle. It’s a pain since I’d like to show my support with a logo tag for my favorite thing.
If you live in a state that doesn’t have this requirement then you can show your support for cotton with a Cotton Logo License Tag.
It’s just one of the many items on sale. We don’t even need to go to the mall. We can shop right here in the hotel at Beltwide.
I’ve got a photo album for the conference which you can find at this link or in Zimmages at the top of the page:
Beltwide Cotton Conference Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
It’s always interesting getting a perspective from your audience. For BASF today that was a group of cotton consultants like Ray Young on the right. Ray’s from northeast Louisiana. Next to him is Boyd Kidwell, Quarry Integrated Communications.
I talked to Ray after the BASF Cotton Consultants Conference and he said that the registration of Headline for cotton was news to him. He says that he’s going to be keeping his eye on how it performs.
Download my interview with Ray Young here: Ray Young Interview (2 min mp3)
You can also listen to the interview with Ray immediately here:
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Scott Asher is a BASF Diversified Regional Manager. He spoke today at their Cotton Consultants Conference and provided some technical information about the product.
Scott says that BASF has a variety of activities planned for growers here that ranges from this session to a nightly hospitality suite and trade show booth. He says that communication with consultants is important and that the company will be stepping up its efforts with them in light of the Headline cotton registration.
Scott says field trials have shown overall improved plant health when using Headline and that translates into increased yield and quality at harvest. Those trials started back in 2003 and have been done in several regions.
Download my interview with Scott here: Scott Asher Interview (2 min mp3)
You can also listen to the interview with Scott immediately here:
I also recorded Scott’s presentation at today’s Consultants Conference for you. You can download his presentation here: Scott Asher Presentation (13 min mp3)
You can also listen to Scott’s presentation immediately here:
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
One of the experts on the program at the BASF Cotton Consultants Conference is Amber Shirley, BASF Technical Marketing Manager. Amber says that having Headline, a foliar fungicide, available for the first time means that cotton growers now have the full range of plant protection products available to them that other commodity growers have.
She says that using a fungicide can create up to a 65 lbs. of lint/acre increase in cotton. She says that growers should talk to their consultants. Besides this session at Beltwide she says BASF will be holding a series of consultant conferences on a regional basis.
Download my interview with Amber here: Amber Shirley Interview (2 min mp3)
You can also listen to the interview with Amber immediately here:
I also recorded Amber’s presentation at today’s Consultants Conference for you. You can download her presentation here: Amber Shirley Presentation (9 min mp3)
You can also listen to Amber’s presentation immediately here:
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Kicking off the BASF Cotton Consultants Conference is Dr. Gary Fellows, BASF Technical Market Manager. Dr. Fellows started things off by announcing that Headline fungicide is now registered for cotton. He says that 4 years worth of field trials are showing great results.
Many of the cotton consultants here were hearing the news for the first time. The conference provided an opportunity to learn how a fungicide can help at harvest time. Dr. Fellows says that it’s about protecting the “money bolls” so timing of application is important. He says that an application of Headline fits right into a cotton spray program.
I interviewed Dr. Fellows so that you can hear him describe the product and what it means to cotton production. (All reporters are encouraged to download any of my interviews here at Beltwide for on-air or web use.)
Download my interview with Dr. Fellows here: Dr. Gary Fellows Interview (3 min mp3)
You can also listen to the interview with Dr. Fellows immediately here:
AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
