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 …
Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Rep. Mike Conaway
Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway. Conaway discusses what promises to be a frantic start to December as the U.S. Congress faces a deadline to approve omnibus appropriations legislation. Chairman Conaway is intent to see protection from budget cuts for the farm bill and crop insurance. In this interview, Conaway calls for administrative changes in …
High Yield Hunters Contest is Back
Deltapine is excited to be bringing back the High Yield Hunter’s contest. Post a picture of your cotton harvest– fields, picker, bales of cotton, etc., now through December 6th and you’ll be entered to win a YETI Tundra cooler each week. A grand prize winner will also receive an all-expenses-paid quail hunting trip to Southern Woods Plantation. To be eligible …
Cotton Industry Wants No More Trade Constraints
The National Cotton Council is calling for an end to constraints on U.S. cotton policy in the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) December Ministerial in Nairobi, Kenya. The group’s president and CEO Gary Adams testified before the House Agriculture Committee that U.S. trade negotiators need to maintain a firm commitment not to accept any further concessions to U.S. cotton policy. He …
Latest FAPRI Commodity Price Report
The prices for grains, oilseeds, cotton, milk and hogs are down sharply from record levels set in recent years. An update to the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute’s (FAPRI) long-term baseline report says no quick price recovery is expected. Given all of the assumptions of the analysis, here are a few highlights of the results: · Projected corn prices …