The “new format” is now in its second year. That is the new format of the annual Beltwide Cotton Conferences. The conferences have been slimmed down to three days and there is no trade show. I missed last year’s in New Orleans but thanks to my sponsor, Nufarm, I am able to spend a day here in San Antonio. To …
FAPRI: Crop Prices Dropping Even More
A new report is either good news or bad news, depending on whether you just raise crops or just raise livestock. But for many producers who do both, the latest report from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri is certainly a dose of both good and bad news. Earlier this month, we told …
Cotton Council Int. Launches New Brand Identity
Cotton Council International (CCI) is revitalizing and re-launching its 25-year old flagship brand, COTTON USA. Since 1989, over 50,000 product lines and 3 billion products have proudly carried the name COTTON USA. That translates into about 100 million bales of cotton. “Our brand has been highly successful,” CCI President Jordan Lea said. “However, the global marketplace has changed dramatically and …
Drop Your Jeans for Cotton Board
The Cotton Board is asking you to drop your jeans for a good cause. Their Blue Jean Go Green campaign is a denim recycling program that gives old denim new life as housing insulation for communities in need. Monty Bain is the Southeast Regional Communications Manager for the Cotton Board and spoke with Chuck at the recent Mid-South Farm & …
Attendance Up at 2014 Mid-South Farm & Gin Show
Attendance was up at this year’s Mid-South Farm & Gin Show. Tim Price, Executive Director of the Southern Cotton Ginners Association and Mid-South Farm & Gin Show Manager summed up the event with Chuck. He’s proud that farmers make plans to attend the show each year and make it a family affair. “We don’t have the exact number yet, but …
Ginners Unite at Farm Show
During the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show, Chuck spoke with Robert Royal, a cotton farmer and operator of Midnight Gin in Midnight, MS. Robert is also the past President of the Southern Cotton Ginners Association. “It’s been a wild ride in the cotton market with acreage. Grains have taken a huge chunk out of cotton acreage that was traditionally a …
Bayer Panel Buzzes About Bees
One of the most important topics discussed at the Ag Issues Forum was the buzz about bee health and what is being done to address declining bee colonies. One of the panelists was Laurie Adams, executive director of the Pollinator Partnership. Laurie stressed that collaboration between all parties is needed to protect all pollinators, including bees. Listen to my interview …
Preserving Our Nations Cotton History
Executive Director of The Cotton Museum, Anna Mullins, was present at the 3rd Annual Season Starter Party during the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show and sat down with Chuck to share what the museum offers to visitors. Anna has a strong history in agriculture specifically centered in the south. She grew up around cotton and started her career in ag …
Mid-South Farm & Gin Show Manager
Meet Tim Price. He’s the manager of the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show and Executive Director of the Southern Cotton Ginners Association. Tim is very passionate about agriculture and his community. You will hear that in our interview at the start of this year’s show. And for those of you who do not know what a cotton gin is, you …
FMC Investing in Farming’s Future
Here’s a big thank you to FMC for sponsoring my first time ever coverage of the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show. For all my friends who said, “Gin Show?” I’ve got an interview coming up with the show manager that will answer all your questions. While I was spending time with FMC today here in Memphis I met Tim Thompson …