Cotton Farming

Cotton yields are measured in pounds per acre. The formula for information yields are trickier to compile, but the 2005 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, held in New Orleans in January, brought a monster crop of knowledge.

Following are highlights from a jam-packed week of meetings, award presentations and more.

Dunavant Offers Candid Remarks

Are you looking for candid remarks and a captivated audience? Chances are you wanted to hear Memphis merchant Billy Dunavant’s address to the Beltwide Cotton Production Conference. It is always an anticipated event, and this year was no exception.

For 19 consecutive years, he has given a market outlook report to the conference. This is to be his last report because he announced that he will be retiring in June as the chief executive officer at Dunavant Enterprises. However, the industry leader will remain on as the company’s board chairman.

Dunavant doesn’t hesitate to offer constructive criticism of the current farm law. In short, he says the U.S. textile industry cannot survive unless the Step 2 program remains in place. He also expresses frustration that cotton producers can make more money when prices are lower as opposed to when they are higher.

“There is nothing about that situation that makes any sense to me,” he adds. “I want the American cotton producer to survive, and survive well, but not based on the farm program that we have today.”

Of particular concern to Dunavant is the size of the U.S. carryover at the end of this season. His company projects a 7.9 million bale carryover, and he worries how that will affect the farm program.

With nearly every cotton-producing country in the world enjoying record harvests, Dunavant doesn’t anticipate any dramatic increase in price. At best, he believes prices could increase “2 or 3 cents.” But he says that will happen only if major commodity funds “decided to cover their position, if they’re short.”

He also believes that the United States’ best customers – Mexico, Turkey and China – will continue in that role despite the current price and production environment.

NCC Chairman Reviews Issues

Council chairman Woody Anderson, a producer from Colorado City, Texas, was one of the busiest leaders in the industry in 2004.

He offered an overview of various Council activities during the past year, and it may have been one of the most active in history for the organization.

The Council chairman divided his report into several sections – legislative affairs, trade and other key issues. Although the challenges are numerous, it is clear that the Council’s attention will be focused on maintaining support for farm programs and being proactive on several trade fronts – most notably China and the WTO.

Anderson also was emphatic in how the NCC will appeal the WTO’s recent ruling in the Brazil dispute. The appeals process will take several months, and Anderson is hopeful the appeal will result in substantial revisions to the initial ruling, which claims that the U.S. cotton program has had a serious and negative impact on Brazil’s cotton industry.

Anderson and NCC president Mark Lange also have been active in meetings with Chinese officials to make sure that they comply with WTO commitments and other trade obligations.

The Council chairman emphasizes the organization continues to support various important research and technical issues to help maintain the industry’s competitive edge.

“There are many challenges before us,” says Anderson. “Research, education and technology transfer continue to be important.”

Lint Quality Panel Stirs Interest

The well-attended general session on Wednesday, January 5, included a panel discussion on fiber quality. Moderator Gary Adams, the NCC’s vice president of economics, offered a short yet powerful summary of the current situation.

“Quality really can be the difference between a profit and a loss,” Adams says.

Each panel member then discussed ways a farmer can tune into profitable management practices. For example, Tommy Valco, USDA-ARS ginning researcher at Stoneville, Miss., says a properly defoliated field can help minimize trash. Harvesting cotton when it is too wet can create quality problems, as can harvest delays. Charles Snipes of Mississippi State University reported on how weather and timing can affect cotton quality.

Oklahoma State University specialist J.C. Banks highlighted the importance of smart variety selection in setting the stage for high lint quality. He also walked through how environmental stresses can impact factors such as micronaire or length uniformity.

Conference attendees say the information provided was highly useful and easily digested.

“I enjoyed the panel’s advice that producers can follow to help enhance quality without requiring them additional input costs,” says Curtis Fountain, a North Carolina county Extension agent in Trenton, N.C. “I can take this information back to producers in southeast North Carolina and utilize it to increase their profit.”

CCI Keeps Promotion At Forefront

Cotton Council International’s briefing to the agricultural media revealed that the organization is working harder than ever to promote U.S. cotton to international markets. Robert Norris, CCI president, says cotton farmers will be introduced to a lot of new vocabulary words, including supply chain marketing, cotton gold alliances, sourcing summits and downstream consumer promotions.

“CCI’s programs continue to search for new ways to add demand and profitability for the full range of cotton products,” Norris says.

A good recent example is ongoing in Mexico, where CCI has continued the promotion of cottonseed meal to dairy and livestock feeding operations. And CCI and Cotton Incorporated are working with the U.S. industry to tap into export potential for compressed, baled cotton sliver. Baled sliver might be able to open avenues to replace some synthetics in blended products created by overseas mills.

Just as importantly, CCI has pledged to keep innovative marketing a top priority.

“CCI recognizes that the challenges to successful export marketing of our cotton fiber and cotton products are only going to increase with time,” Norris says. “Our innovative programs are up to the task.”

For a more complete listing of CCI’s programs, visit www.cottonusa.org on the Internet.

‘Cotton Champion’ Crowned

Lilly Pulitzer, which retails colorful and uplifting apparel lines, is the recipient of the U.S. Cotton Champion Award for 2005. The award is given annually by the National Cotton Council on behalf of its National Cotton Women’s Committee.

Currently, 75 retailers are recognized as Lilly Pulitzer Signature Stores. The company’s line of women’s and children’s apparel is also sold in many major department stores, such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom.

Vice president and creative director Sandi Davidson, says the company is honored to be tapped for this award.

“Those who know our brand know how important cotton is in helping us design our collection each season,” Davidson says. “We are committed to using this soft, easy-to-wear fabric in all of our collections and are so grateful to accept this award.”

The company will celebrate its Palm Beach, Fla., roots for its Spring 2005 collection by unveiling a “Sea of Color” design concept. Visit www.lillypulitzer.com for more information about this company.

Physiology Filled With Hot Topics

Proof that cotton research is alive and well was apparent at the Cotton Physiology Conference, where speaker after speaker discussed ongoing projects across the Belt.

But as one speaker notes, some “classic questions” never go away.

“We always revisit the same old problems every so often,” says Chism Craig, Extension specialist at the University of Tennessee. “Is the current planting rate correct? Does one plant per foot in May beat three plants per foot in June if we replant? These are the questions we always get.”

Craig’s research reveals that farmers shouldn’t get over-anxious about minor skips in their stands. Skips of more than three feet need to be considered, he says, but adds that skips of less than three feet appear to compensate adequately.

Maturity research also remains popular. Craig Bednarz, Extension specialist with the University of Georgia, has compared earliness against endurance. He says finding new selection criteria for full-season varieties will be a tremendous help in his state.

The conference, moderated by Louisiana State University Extension specialist Sandy Stewart, held an interested audience throughout.

And with so many new seed varieties and technologies debuting in 2005, next year’s Cotton Physiology Conference will once again be a key part of the Beltwide.

Con-Till Continues Innovations

Con-till, strip-till and other reduced tillage programs have definitely made their way into the vocabularies of farmers everywhere, and a panel was able to discuss some of the varying systems. Charles Stichler, Texas Extension agronomist, talked about the diverse environments found in his state and what challenges that situation creates for all crop production.

Stichler remains upbeat about the tenacity of Texas cotton producers.

“When the going gets tough, the tough find a solution,” he says, adding that no single “best” con-till system exists. Instead, each farmer should look at the individual circumstances of his acreage to find a proper fit.

The other two con-till panel members were Jeff Mitchell of California Cooperative Extension and Andy Page, district conservationist in Perry, Ga. Mitchell shared news of a growing number of California farmers embracing reduced tillage techniques that help reduce fuel costs and protect air quality in the San Joaquin Valley.

Page says about 523,000 acres of cotton (about 40 percent of the crop) are devoted to no-till or strip-till systems. He thinks that mindset is the biggest obstacle. By planning ahead and using a systems approach, Page says farmers can enjoy the benefits of con-till.

Insect Control Remains Top Priority

Name an insect pest, any you can think of offhand. Chances are, a researcher addressed it at the Cotton Insect Control Conference.

As an added bonus, the presentation of several doctoral students’ papers offered attendees a glimpse into the future of cotton research. For example, Ryan Kurtz, a Ph.D. entomology student at North Carolina State University, presented a paper about resistance development in Bollgard II. He notes that Bollgard II is able to delay insect resistance more than twofold, and mandated refuges offer additional protection.

And two graduates were awarded for making outstanding oral presentations on insect research. John Styrsky of Auburn University won first place in the Gary Herzog Memorial Ph.D. competition; Josh Temple, a student at Louisiana State University, received first place in the Stacy Hall Memorial Masters competition.

Phipps Named Top Specialist

Bobby Phipps, Extension cotton specialist in Missouri, was recognized by his peers throughout the Belt as the “2005 Cotton Specialist of the Year.” The award is sponsored annually by Crompton Crop Protection.

Extension cotton specialists representing every cotton-producing state annually select a recipient based on industry leadership and service.

A Texas native who grew up on a farm northeast of Lubbock, Phipps earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas Tech University and a doctorate degree in plant breeding from Texas A&M University. He joined the University of Missouri’s Delta Research and Extension Center in 1995.

“Bobby is one of the most knowledgeable people I know when it comes to cotton breeding and cotton genetics,” says Alabama cotton specialist Dale Monks. “He’s always willing to share his experience, and I consider him to be one of the best specialists in the country.”

Phipps also is a regular monthly contributor to Cotton Farming magazine’s Specialists Speaking section.

D&PL Unveils New Varieties

Delta & Pine Land Company announced four new cotton varieties for full commercial launch and four new varieties in initial limited supply for 2005 as the company continues to increase its seed portfolio.

“For several years, D&PL has concentrated its breeding and research efforts on developing new varieties with improved fiber quality genetics and high-yield potential,” says Dave Albers, D&PL director of technical services for the Southwest region.

“The new varieties for 2005 offer significant improvements in micronaire, length, strength and uniformity potential, and consistent high yield potential,” he adds.

The new varieties slated for full launch in 2005 are: DP 488 BG/RR, DP 432 RR, DP 434 RR and DP 494 RR.

New D&PL varieties that will be offered in 2005 in limited seed supplies are: DP 543 BGII/RR, DP 445 BG/RR, DP 455 BG/RR and DP 393.

Stoneville Hosts Media, Producers

Emergent Genetics, parent company of Stoneville Seed Co., hosted a special breakfast at the Beltwide to report results of recent Official Variety Trials in the Mid-South.

Of particular interest was the performance of ST 5242BR which performed better than its closest competitor in 8 of 10 trials. Another Stoneville variety that performed well was ST 5599BR which out-yielded its closest competitor by 93 pounds in 66 percent of trials.

“We think we’ve got some exciting things to showcase to our producers,” says Don Threet, Stoneville vice president of U.S. Business. “It’s a great time to be in the seed business, and an even more exciting time to be in cotton. We have a lot of opportunities in 2005.”

Wells Receives Physiology Award

Randy Wells of North Carolina State University received the Outstanding Research Award in Cotton Physiology at the Beltwide. The annual award, sponsored by Agrivert Inc., recognizes exceptional achievements made in cotton research.

Wells was selected for the award by a committee of industry peers and is most prominently known for his research addressing problems associated with genetic and environmental limitations to cotton yield and fiber quality.

He was honored with a $5,000 award check from Agrivert, Inc.

Wells has focused his research predominately on carbohydrate accumulation and partitioning throughout his long and illustrious career. This research has led to a greater understanding of how to breed and manage for high yielding cotton plants.

Smith Wins Genetics Award

Dr. C. Wayne Smith, a professor of Cotton Breeding and associate head of Texas A&M University’s Soil and Crop Sciences Department in College Station, is the recipient of the esteemed 2004 Cotton Genetics Research Award.

Smith received $1,000 in recognition of his efforts, which include 30 years of scientific and academic service to the U.S. cotton industry combined with his cooperative research with scientists around the globe.

U.S. commercial cotton breeders have presented the Cotton Genetics Research Award for more than 40 years to a scientist for outstanding basic research in cotton genetics.

Prior to joining A&M in 1986, Smith was a professor of Agronomy at the University of Arkansas Cotton Branch Experiment Station in Marianna for 12 years.

Weed Science Awards Announced

Matt Kirkpatrick, a Mississippi State University student, won first place in the third annual Cotton Weed Science Research Conference’s Graduate Student Paper Contest.

Kirkpatrick, who won in the Ph.D. level, received $150 for his presentation, “Site-specific Plant Growth Regulator Applications Based on Aerial Imagery.” Tied for second place and recipients of $100 were North Carolina State University students Whitnee Barker and Walter Thomas for their respective presentations, “Physiological Behavior of Liberty Drift to Non-Target Crops” and “Physiological Behavior of Glyphosate in Roundup Ready Flex.”

In the Masters level competition, Andrew Gardner, a North Carolina State University student, received $150 for a report on “Annual Grass Control with Ignite and Graminicides,” and Texas Tech University student Kenneth McCormick received $100 for a second place presentation, titled “LibertyLink Cotton: An Economic Comparison to Roundup Ready and Conventional Cotton.”

The sponsors for this year’s event included FMC, Valent, Monsanto and Bayer CropScience.

Insect Research Awards Announced

Students at four universities captured honors in the oral presentation competition of the Cotton Insect Research and Control Conference.

Dow AgroSciences sponsored this sixth year of competition.

In the Gary Herzog Memorial Ph.D. competition, John Styrsky of Auburn University won first place and $500 for “Cotton Aphids Benefit Yield by Increasing Fire Ant Predation of Caterpillar Pests.” Jorge Torres of the University of Georgia was awarded $250 and honorable mention for “Lady Beetle Species Shift in Bt and Non-Bt Cotton Fields.”

In the Stacy Hall Memorial Masters competition, Josh Temple, Louisiana State University, received $400 for his first place presentation, “Generating Aerial Insecticide Prescriptions Using Cotton Yield and Crop Profit Maps,” and Dominic Reising, University of California, Davis received honorable mention and $200 for his report, “Remote Sensing for Detection of Spider Mite and Cotton Aphid in San Joaquin Valley Cotton.”

The competition in the Insect Research and Control Conference is designed to encourage outstanding graduate work in cotton entomology and promote graduate student attendance at the conferences.

Physiology Grad Students Honored

Winners of the Outstanding Student Presentation Awards competition represented the University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, University of New Orleans/USDA-ARS and Texas A&M University.

In the oral presentation competition, first place and $300 went to Glenn Ritchie, University of Georgia, for “Cotton Irrigation Timing Using Remote Sensing,” second place and $200 went to Jonathan Siebert, Louisiana State University, for “Plant Population and Within Row Planting Configuration Effects on Cotton Growth and Yield,” and third place and $100 went to Nicole Asprodites, University of New Orleans/USDA Agricultural Research Service, for “Cloning and Characterization of Three ROP/RAC G-Proteins from Gossypium hirsutum.”

Monsanto sponsors the award.

Up Next

The 2006 Beltwide Cotton Conferences are scheduled for Jan. 3-6 at the Marriott Rivercenter and Riverwalk Hotels in San Antonio, Texas. If this year’s Beltwide in New Orleans is any indicator, attendees will have plenty to look forward to next year in terms of valuable information – and fun.

Beltwide Brings Bounty Of Info

Cotton yields are measured in pounds per acre. The formula for information yields are trickier to compile, but the 2005 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, held in New Orleans in January, brought a monster crop of knowledge. Following are highlights from a jam-packed week of meetings, award presentations and more. Dunavant Offers Candid Remarks Are you looking for candid remarks and a captivated audience? Chances are you wanted to hear Memphis merchant Billy Dunavant’s address to the Beltwide Cotton Production Conference. It is always an anticipated event, and this year was no exception. For 19 consecutive years, he has given a market outlook report to the conference. This is to be his last report because he announced that he will be retiring in June as the chief executive officer at Dunavant Enterprises. However, the industry leader will remain on as the company’s board chairman. Dunavant doesn’t hesitate to offer constructive criticism of the current farm law. In short, he says the U.S. textile industry cannot survive unless the Step 2 program remains in place. He also expresses frustration that cotton producers can make more money when prices are lower as opposed to when they are higher. “There is nothing about that situation that makes any sense to me,” he adds. “I want the American cotton producer to survive, and survive well, but not based on the farm program that we have today.” Of particular concern to Dunavant is the size of the U.S. carryover at the end of this season. His company projects a 7.9 million bale carryover, and he worries how that will affect the farm program. With nearly every cotton-producing country in the world enjoying record harvests, Dunavant doesn’t anticipate any dramatic increase in price. At best, he believes prices could increase “2 or 3 cents.” But he says that will happen only if major commodity funds “decided to cover their position, if they’re short.” He also believes that the United States’ best customers – Mexico, Turkey and China – will continue in that role despite the current price and production environment. NCC Chairman Reviews Issues Council chairman Woody Anderson, a producer from Colorado City, Texas, was one of the busiest leaders in the industry in 2004. He offered an overview of various Council activities during the past year, and it may have been one of the most active in history for the organization. The Council chairman divided his report into several sections – legislative affairs, trade and other key issues. Although the challenges are numerous, it is clear that the Council’s attention will be focused on maintaining support for farm programs and being proactive on several trade fronts – most notably China and the WTO. Anderson also was emphatic in how the NCC will appeal the WTO’s recent ruling in the Brazil dispute. The appeals process will take several months, and Anderson is hopeful the appeal will result in substantial revisions to the initial ruling, which claims that the U.S. cotton program has had a serious and negative impact on Brazil’s cotton industry. Anderson and NCC president Mark Lange also have been active in meetings with Chinese officials to make sure that they comply with WTO commitments and other trade obligations. The Council chairman emphasizes the organization continues to support various important research and technical issues to help maintain the industry’s competitive edge. “There are many challenges before us,” says Anderson. “Research, education and technology transfer continue to be important.” Lint Quality Panel Stirs Interest The well-attended general session on Wednesday, January 5, included a panel discussion on fiber quality. Moderator Gary Adams, the NCC’s vice president of economics, offered a short yet powerful summary of the current situation. “Quality really can be the difference between a profit and a loss,” Adams says. Each panel member then discussed ways a farmer can tune into profitable management practices. For example, Tommy Valco, USDA-ARS ginning researcher at Stoneville, Miss., says a properly defoliated field can help minimize trash. Harvesting cotton when it is too wet can create quality problems, as can harvest delays. Charles Snipes of Mississippi State University reported on how weather and timing can affect cotton quality. Oklahoma State University specialist J.C. Banks highlighted the importance of smart variety selection in setting the stage for high lint quality. He also walked through how environmental stresses can impact factors such as micronaire or length uniformity. Conference attendees say the information provided was highly useful and easily digested. “I enjoyed the panel’s advice that producers can follow to help enhance quality without requiring them additional input costs,” says Curtis Fountain, a North Carolina county Extension agent in Trenton, N.C. “I can take this information back to producers in southeast North Carolina and utilize it to increase their profit.” CCI Keeps Promotion At Forefront Cotton Council International’s briefing to the agricultural media revealed that the organization is working harder than ever to promote U.S. cotton to international markets. Robert Norris, CCI president, says cotton farmers will be introduced to a lot of new vocabulary words, including supply chain marketing, cotton gold alliances, sourcing summits and downstream consumer promotions. “CCI’s programs continue to search for new ways to add demand and profitability for the full range of cotton products,” Norris says. A good recent example is ongoing in Mexico, where CCI has continued the promotion of cottonseed meal to dairy and livestock feeding operations. And CCI and Cotton Incorporated are working with the U.S. industry to tap into export potential for compressed, baled cotton sliver. Baled sliver might be able to open avenues to replace some synthetics in blended products created by overseas mills. Just as importantly, CCI has pledged to keep innovative marketing a top priority. “CCI recognizes that the challenges to successful export marketing of our cotton fiber and cotton products are only going to increase with time,” Norris says. “Our innovative programs are up to the task.” For a more complete listing of CCI’s programs, visit www.cottonusa.org on the Internet. ‘Cotton Champion’ Crowned Lilly Pulitzer, which retails colorful and uplifting apparel lines, is the recipient of the U.S. Cotton Champion Award for 2005. The award is given annually by the National Cotton Council on behalf of its National Cotton Women’s Committee. Currently, 75 retailers are recognized as Lilly Pulitzer Signature Stores. The company’s line of women’s and children’s apparel is also sold in many major department stores, such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom. Vice president and creative director Sandi Davidson, says the company is honored to be tapped for this award. “Those who know our brand know how important cotton is in helping us design our collection each season,” Davidson says. “We are committed to using this soft, easy-to-wear fabric in all of our collections and are so grateful to accept this award.” The company will celebrate its Palm Beach, Fla., roots for its Spring 2005 collection by unveiling a “Sea of Color” design concept. Visit www.lillypulitzer.com for more information about this company. Physiology Filled With Hot Topics Proof that cotton research is alive and well was apparent at the Cotton Physiology Conference, where speaker after speaker discussed ongoing projects across the Belt. But as one speaker notes, some “classic questions” never go away. “We always revisit the same old problems every so often,” says Chism Craig, Extension specialist at the University of Tennessee. “Is the current planting rate correct? Does one plant per foot in May beat three plants per foot in June if we replant? These are the questions we always get.” Craig’s research reveals that farmers shouldn’t get over-anxious about minor skips in their stands. Skips of more than three feet need to be considered, he says, but adds that skips of less than three feet appear to compensate adequately. Maturity research also remains popular. Craig Bednarz, Extension specialist with the University of Georgia, has compared earliness against endurance. He says finding new selection criteria for full-season varieties will be a tremendous help in his state. The conference, moderated by Louisiana State University Extension specialist Sandy Stewart, held an interested audience throughout. And with so many new seed varieties and technologies debuting in 2005, next year’s Cotton Physiology Conference will once again be a key part of the Beltwide. Con-Till Continues Innovations Con-till, strip-till and other reduced tillage programs have definitely made their way into the vocabularies of farmers everywhere, and a panel was able to discuss some of the varying systems. Charles Stichler, Texas Extension agronomist, talked about the diverse environments found in his state and what challenges that situation creates for all crop production. Stichler remains upbeat about the tenacity of Texas cotton producers. “When the going gets tough, the tough find a solution,” he says, adding that no single “best” con-till system exists. Instead, each farmer should look at the individual circumstances of his acreage to find a proper fit. The other two con-till panel members were Jeff Mitchell of California Cooperative Extension and Andy Page, district conservationist in Perry, Ga. Mitchell shared news of a growing number of California farmers embracing reduced tillage techniques that help reduce fuel costs and protect air quality in the San Joaquin Valley. Page says about 523,000 acres of cotton (about 40 percent of the crop) are devoted to no-till or strip-till systems. He thinks that mindset is the biggest obstacle. By planning ahead and using a systems approach, Page says farmers can enjoy the benefits of con-till. Insect Control Remains Top Priority Name an insect pest, any you can think of offhand. Chances are, a researcher addressed it at the Cotton Insect Control Conference. As an added bonus, the presentation of several doctoral students’ papers offered attendees a glimpse into the future of cotton research. For example, Ryan Kurtz, a Ph.D. entomology student at North Carolina State University, presented a paper about resistance development in Bollgard II. He notes that Bollgard II is able to delay insect resistance more than twofold, and mandated refuges offer additional protection. And two graduates were awarded for making outstanding oral presentations on insect research. John Styrsky of Auburn University won first place in the Gary Herzog Memorial Ph.D. competition; Josh Temple, a student at Louisiana State University, received first place in the Stacy Hall Memorial Masters competition. Phipps Named Top Specialist Bobby Phipps, Extension cotton specialist in Missouri, was recognized by his peers throughout the Belt as the “2005 Cotton Specialist of the Year.” The award is sponsored annually by Crompton Crop Protection. Extension cotton specialists representing every cotton-producing state annually select a recipient based on industry leadership and service. A Texas native who grew up on a farm northeast of Lubbock, Phipps earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas Tech University and a doctorate degree in plant breeding from Texas A&M University. He joined the University of Missouri’s Delta Research and Extension Center in 1995. “Bobby is one of the most knowledgeable people I know when it comes to cotton breeding and cotton genetics,” says Alabama cotton specialist Dale Monks. “He’s always willing to share his experience, and I consider him to be one of the best specialists in the country.” Phipps also is a regular monthly contributor to Cotton Farming magazine’s Specialists Speaking section. D&PL Unveils New Varieties Delta & Pine Land Company announced four new cotton varieties for full commercial launch and four new varieties in initial limited supply for 2005 as the company continues to increase its seed portfolio. “For several years, D&PL has concentrated its breeding and research efforts on developing new varieties with improved fiber quality genetics and high-yield potential,” says Dave Albers, D&PL director of technical services for the Southwest region. “The new varieties for 2005 offer significant improvements in micronaire, length, strength and uniformity potential, and consistent high yield potential,” he adds. The new varieties slated for full launch in 2005 are: DP 488 BG/RR, DP 432 RR, DP 434 RR and DP 494 RR. New D&PL varieties that will be offered in 2005 in limited seed supplies are: DP 543 BGII/RR, DP 445 BG/RR, DP 455 BG/RR and DP 393. Stoneville Hosts Media, Producers Emergent Genetics, parent company of Stoneville Seed Co., hosted a special breakfast at the Beltwide to report results of recent Official Variety Trials in the Mid-South. Of particular interest was the performance of ST 5242BR which performed better than its closest competitor in 8 of 10 trials. Another Stoneville variety that performed well was ST 5599BR which out-yielded its closest competitor by 93 pounds in 66 percent of trials. “We think we’ve got some exciting things to showcase to our producers,” says Don Threet, Stoneville vice president of U.S. Business. “It’s a great time to be in the seed business, and an even more exciting time to be in cotton. We have a lot of opportunities in 2005.” Wells Receives Physiology Award Randy Wells of North Carolina State University received the Outstanding Research Award in Cotton Physiology at the Beltwide. The annual award, sponsored by Agrivert Inc., recognizes exceptional achievements made in cotton research. Wells was selected for the award by a committee of industry peers and is most prominently known for his research addressing problems associated with genetic and environmental limitations to cotton yield and fiber quality. He was honored with a $5,000 award check from Agrivert, Inc. Wells has focused his research predominately on carbohydrate accumulation and partitioning throughout his long and illustrious career. This research has led to a greater understanding of how to breed and manage for high yielding cotton plants. Smith Wins Genetics Award Dr. C. Wayne Smith, a professor of Cotton Breeding and associate head of Texas A&M University’s Soil and Crop Sciences Department in College Station, is the recipient of the esteemed 2004 Cotton Genetics Research Award. Smith received $1,000 in recognition of his efforts, which include 30 years of scientific and academic service to the U.S. cotton industry combined with his cooperative research with scientists around the globe. U.S. commercial cotton breeders have presented the Cotton Genetics Research Award for more than 40 years to a scientist for outstanding basic research in cotton genetics. Prior to joining A&M in 1986, Smith was a professor of Agronomy at the University of Arkansas Cotton Branch Experiment Station in Marianna for 12 years. Weed Science Awards Announced Matt Kirkpatrick, a Mississippi State University student, won first place in the third annual Cotton Weed Science Research Conference’s Graduate Student Paper Contest. Kirkpatrick, who won in the Ph.D. level, received $150 for his presentation, “Site-specific Plant Growth Regulator Applications Based on Aerial Imagery.” Tied for second place and recipients of $100 were North Carolina State University students Whitnee Barker and Walter Thomas for their respective presentations, “Physiological Behavior of Liberty Drift to Non-Target Crops” and “Physiological Behavior of Glyphosate in Roundup Ready Flex.” In the Masters level competition, Andrew Gardner, a North Carolina State University student, received $150 for a report on “Annual Grass Control with Ignite and Graminicides,” and Texas Tech University student Kenneth McCormick received $100 for a second place presentation, titled “LibertyLink Cotton: An Economic Comparison to Roundup Ready and Conventional Cotton.” The sponsors for this year’s event included FMC, Valent, Monsanto and Bayer CropScience. Insect Research Awards Announced Students at four universities captured honors in the oral presentation competition of the Cotton Insect Research and Control Conference. Dow AgroSciences sponsored this sixth year of competition. In the Gary Herzog Memorial Ph.D. competition, John Styrsky of Auburn University won first place and $500 for “Cotton Aphids Benefit Yield by Increasing Fire Ant Predation of Caterpillar Pests.” Jorge Torres of the University of Georgia was awarded $250 and honorable mention for “Lady Beetle Species Shift in Bt and Non-Bt Cotton Fields.” In the Stacy Hall Memorial Masters competition, Josh Temple, Louisiana State University, received $400 for his first place presentation, “Generating Aerial Insecticide Prescriptions Using Cotton Yield and Crop Profit Maps,” and Dominic Reising, University of California, Davis received honorable mention and $200 for his report, “Remote Sensing for Detection of Spider Mite and Cotton Aphid in San Joaquin Valley Cotton.” The competition in the Insect Research and Control Conference is designed to encourage outstanding graduate work in cotton entomology and promote graduate student attendance at the conferences. Physiology Grad Students Honored Winners of the Outstanding Student Presentation Awards competition represented the University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, University of New Orleans/USDA-ARS and Texas A&M University. In the oral presentation competition, first place and $300 went to Glenn Ritchie, University of Georgia, for “Cotton Irrigation Timing Using Remote Sensing,” second place and $200 went to Jonathan Siebert, Louisiana State University, for “Plant Population and Within Row Planting Configuration Effects on Cotton Growth and Yield,” and third place and $100 went to Nicole Asprodites, University of New Orleans/USDA Agricultural Research Service, for “Cloning and Characterization of Three ROP/RAC G-Proteins from Gossypium hirsutum.” Monsanto sponsors the award. Up Next The 2006 Beltwide Cotton Conferences are scheduled for Jan. 3-6 at the Marriott Rivercenter and Riverwalk Hotels in San Antonio, Texas. If this year’s Beltwide in New Orleans is any indicator, attendees will have plenty to look forward to next year in terms of valuable information – and fun.

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