The cotton jassid is a brand new pest for U.S. cotton growers but India has been dealing with it for years, which makes that country a good source for ways to control it, including plant breeding. Roy Cantrell, Wheelertex Consulting, has spent the past ten years consulting in India and he shared some of his insights at the recent Beltwide …
Terrifying Tariffs and the Global Cotton Market
The Beltwide Cotton Economic Outlook Conference this year was a sobering one for the industry. “Cotton prices have been stagnant since planting…we’ve traded in more or less a six cent range over the last six months,” said Beau Stephenson, Omnicotton, Inc. in his presentation on the Changing Global Cotton Market. “This is not an exciting price pattern for the producers …
Capstone Journeys in Cotton Engineering
Engineering students at Texas A&M are working on capstone projects that could help the cotton industry in the future. Michael Buser is Professor and Endowed Chair in Cotton Engineering, Ginning and Mechanization at Texas A&M and he had two student teams who presented their projects at last week’s Beltwide Cotton Conferences. “One is working on a feeder for a breeder …
Seizing Opportunities for U.S. Cotton
The purpose of the National Cotton Council is to increase profitability for the industry, and it is especially important when the market is down and growers are struggling. Marjory Walker, NCC VP Operations and Communications, presented some of the council’s recent initiatives at this week’s 2026 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. “One of the most innovative, I think, is Buying America Cotton …
Cotton Consultants Conference Covers the Latest
From what’s new in crop protection technology from the major players, to what’s new that could impact this growing season, the 2026 Beltwide Cotton Consultants Conference covered the waterfront on the first day Wednesday. Conference coordinator Hank Jones was pleased to see a good crowd. “We had a very good turnout from around the belt,” said Jones. “I know there’s …
Syngenta Spotlights New Insecticide at Cotton Conferences
Syngenta’s PLINAZOLIN® technology just received registration from the Environmental Protection Agency last month and is now available for use, subject to state approvals, powering five separate insecticide products including Vertento® for cotton. Tripp Walker, Syngenta agronomic service rep, gave a presentation at the Beltwide Cotton Consultants Conference Wednesday in San Antonio on the new foliar-applied insecticide for cotton, peanuts and …
Overview of New Invasive Pest – Cotton Jassid
A brand new invasive pest is on the scene for cotton growers in the Southeast. University of Georga Extension Entomologist Phillip Roberts presented the latest information on the Cotton Jassid during the Cotton Consultants Conference yesterday in San Antonio on the first day of the 2026 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. “So this is an invasive insect, native to India,” said Roberts. …
2026 Starts with Beltwide Cotton Conferences
The National Cotton Council and its cooperating partners will be ringing in the new year with the 2026 Beltwide Cotton Conferences January 7 through 9 at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, San Antonio, Texas. Beltwide Coordinator Lauren Krogman says the conference includes three days of individual reports, panel discussions, hands-on workshops and seminars designed to provide attendees with information they …
EPA Approves Victrato® Seed Treatment
Syngenta’s Victrato® seed treatment has received registration from the Environmental Protection Agency for soybeans and cotton to protect against plant-parasitic nematodes and diseases. Victrato will be available to farmers the rest of 2025 in preparation for the 2026 planting season, subject to state approvals. Syngenta Seedcare Technical Product Lead Dale Ireland was anticipating approval of Victrado at the 2025 Farm …
Cotton Council Promotes Plant Not Plastic for Clothing
The National Cotton Council (NCC) has just kicked off a new campaign called “Plant Not Plastic” Campaign in an effort to educate consumers on how to choose natural fibers in their clothing to reduce microplastic pollution and its potential health implications. NCC Vice President of Council Operations Marjory Walker says a survey conducted for the Council revealed that consumers are …