The National Cotton Council (NCC) and its cooperating partners are starting the new year with the 2024 Beltwide Cotton Conferences getting underway today in Fort Worth, Texas. Conferences coordinator Lauren Krogman says attendance is back to pre-COVID levels. “Right now our registration numbers are close to 800 so we are really happy to see everyone here,” said Krogman, who adds …
BASF Sponsors Awards at Beltwide Cotton Conferences
BASF helped to recognize the Cotton Specialist of the Year and Cotton Marketer of the Year at last week’s Beltwide Cotton Conferences. Dr. Murilo Maeda, assistant professor and extension cotton specialist from Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension, in Lubbock, Texas, was named the 2023 Cotton Specialist of the Year. Maeda has been in the cotton industry his entire life, growing …
2023 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Wrap Up
Another successful Beltwide Cotton Conferences is in the books and it was good to see attendance and participation back up to pre-pandemic levels. “I’m always glad to kick off the year with Beltwide,” said Hank Jones, RSJ Ag Services, who once again served as chair for the Consultants Conference. “One of the things that I’ve always loved about the conference …
Cotton Policy Update at #BWCC23
Attendees at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences this week in New Orleans were updated on current policy issues relating to cotton by Bart Fischer, Co-Director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center Texas A&M University. Fischer says one of the big policy issues on the plate this year is the next farm bill. “The 2018 Farm Bill expires on September 30,” …
Cotton Pesticides and the Endangered Species Act
The future of pesticides under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was a topic for a panel at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences Consultants Conference this week in New Orleans. The panel was composed of Leah Duzy and Ashlea Frank, Compliance Services International (CSI); Jack Royal, Royal’s Ag Consulting Company, Leary GA; and Rogers Leonard, Integrated Crop Consulting, St. Josesph, LA. “EPA …
US Cotton Trust Protocol Update
The 2023 Beltwide Cotton Conferences kicked off in New Orleans Tuesday with the consultants conference and an update on the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol from president Gary Adams. Launched in 2020, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is a farm level, science-based program designed to set a new standard in more sustainably grown cotton. Adams says membership in the program grew …
Beltwide Cotton Conferences Will Ring in New Year
The National Cotton Council and its cooperating partners will welcome in the new year at the 2023 Beltwide Cotton Conferences January 10 through 12 in New Orleans, which for many of us will be the first meeting of the year. Beltwide is three days of individual reports, panel discussions, hands on workshops and seminars designed to provide attendees with information …
Bayer Anticipates ThryvOn Approval by 2023
Bayer’s ThryvOn™ technology cotton trait for control of tarnished plant bugs and thrips is getting closer to full regulatory approval. “ThryvOn is industry’s first Bt trait that controls thrip species and tarnished plant bug species,” said Bayer Cotton Traits and Agronomic Systems Manager Tim Dabbert at last week’s Beltwide Cotton Conferences. “We’ve put it into cotton and we’re going to …
BASF Honors Cotton Specialist of the Year
Kansas State University Extension Specialist Stu Duncan was presented with the Cotton Specialist of the Year Award by BASF this week at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences. Voted on by cotton specialists in the 17 states where cotton is grown, this highly-esteemed award is based on several considerations, including exceptional leadership and outstanding industry service. “Saw my first cotton plants in …
Cotton Trust Protocol Update
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol recently celebrated one-year since its official launch in 2020. The Trust Protocol brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to sustainable cotton production and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics– land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency. National Cotton Council president and CEO Dr. Gary Adams, …