Industry Comments

Can U.S. cotton’s friends in Congress help protect important farm programs from budget cuts?

Richard Kelley
Ginner
Burlison, Tenn.

I am optimistic about our friends in Congress protecting cotton programs that are vital to the industry. As long as we can keep the lines of communication open, we have reason to feel that way. We live in a world where the cotton industry needs these programs to compete in the market. Our Congressional friends have stood by us in the past, and I think they’ll do the same thing this time around.

 
Kirk Gilkey
Ginner
Corcoran, Calif.

There are a lot of things going on in Congress, and I’m hoping that friends such as Sen. Blanche Lincoln can win re-election and continue to be a friend of the cotton industry. We need her support. As long as we have people like her in Congress, it will make a lot of farmers and ginners feel better. Protecting these programs is more important today than ever before.

 
Tim Price
Southern Cotton Ginners Assoc.
Memphis, Tenn.

Agriculture has had a history of working with Congress in a bipartisan manner across party lines. However, we’re in an era now where the intensity of feelings has increased at all levels. We have huge issues with the economy in the country, and there is a lot of tension in Washington. However, I am sensing a change in the House and Senate. Our representatives know that the general public wants cooperation, and that bodes well for agriculture as we look ahead to the future. I think our friends in Congress want to work together to protect important farm programs because they know it’s the right thing to do.

 
Lee Tiller
Ginner
Odem, Texas

Our ag groups in Texas are pretty optimistic that our friends in Congress will protect cotton programs, and it all starts with Sen. Lincoln in Arkansas. She means a lot to our industry, and we need for her to win re-election so that she can maintain her position as chairman of the Senate Ag Committee. Also, I have a lot of confidence in the National Cotton Council’s ability to represent us and cultivate important relationships in Washington.

 
Van Murphy
Ginner
Quitman, Ga.

I’ll be the first one to tell you that we always have challenges in Congress when it comes to protecting important cotton programs. This year is no different. Having said that, I am hopeful that folks like Sen. Lincoln and Sen. Chambliss will be able to lead the charge in helping us hold on to our programs. I know we’re in a tough budget environment, but the cotton industry needs all of its friends to step forward and help out. Agriculture seems to always have a target on its back, and we simply can’t give up. Too much is at stake right now.