Textile executives from 10 Korean companies will tour the U.S. Cotton Belt on April 17-22. The executives will observe U.S. cotton production, processing and marketing and will meet with U.S. cotton exporters. This Cotton USA Korean Special Trade Mission is being conducted by Cotton Council International (CCI), the National Cotton Council’s export promotions arm. Korea currently ranks as the sixth …
EPA Opens Comment Period Regarding Dicamba
The EPA has opened a 30 day comment period to the public covering the topic of dicamba herbicide use with Bollgard II ExtendFlex cotton and Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans. This step is an important move forward for growers hoping to gain access to dicamba weed-management tools. A limited commercial introduction of Bollgard II XtendFlex Cotton took place in 2015 …
Corn Up, Soybeans Down in #USDA Report
The 2016 Prospective Plantings report out today from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) shows farmers expect to plant more corn and less soybeans this year. U.S. corn growers expect to plant 93.6 million acres to corn this year, the first increase in corn planted acreage since 2012 and, if realized, will be the third largest corn acreage since 1944. …
Record Year At Mid-South Farm & Gin Show
The 64th Annual 2016 Mid South Farm & Gin Show was held last week at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee. The event has been held in the same location since its beginning, and is sponsored by the Southern Cotton Ginners Association(SCGA). The spacious facility offered the 17,000 attendees a four-story trade show, hosting 400 exhibitors from around 40 …
Shane Stephens Elected Chair of Cotton Council
Shane Stephens has been elected the National Cotton Council chairman for 2016. Stephens, from Greenwood, Mississippi, follows Seldge Taylor in the position. Stephens has long been an active member in the cotton industry, participating in the Cotton Leadership Program from 1994-1995 and serving as president of the alumni association. He has represented the NCC as vice president from 2007-2012 and …
2016 Expected to be Challenging for U.S. Cotton
2016 is expected to be another challenging year for the U.S. cotton industry according to the National Cotton Council (NCC). NCC Vice President for Economics & Policy Analysis Dr. Jody Campiche told delegates at the NCC’s 78th Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas that the challenges will include low cotton prices, high global stocks and uncertainties regarding global mill cotton use. …
Vilsack Puts Cottonseed Decision in Hands of Congress
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has reportedly informed Congress that he has no legal authority to approve a request from cotton growers that cottonseed be designated as an oilseed to qualify for farm programs. The secretary told reporters about the decision Wednesday at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture meeting in Washington DC. In response to press reports, House …
Cotton Growers Pleased with WTO Negotiations
Cotton growers were happy to see the latest results from World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations. This news release from the National Cotton Council (NCC) said U.S. trade negotiators were able to resist pressure for further concessions on cotton during the recent 10th WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. “U.S. negotiators held firm with respect to any cotton specific outcomes, ensuring …
Cotton Growers Appreciate Cottonseed Designation Push
The National Cotton Council is expressing its gratitude for the effort to get cottonseed to be designated as an “other oilseed.” The group thanked House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) for their help in getting 100 House Members signed onto a letter urging Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to use the authority granted in the …
Cotton Industry To Congress: Tough Economic Conditions
The U.S. cotton industry faces some tough economic conditions right now, and leaders from the sector were on Capitol Hill to let lawmakers know how they could help. This news release from the National Cotton Council says the group outlined numerous market, policy and regulatory issues that threaten to undermine the U.S. cotton industry’s health during testimony before the House …