The National Cotton Council characterized 2018 as a year with significant uncertainty and volatility in the world cotton market. It sees 2019 as having some important unknowns as well. Is there a predominant unknown factor for 2019? ▪ The ongoing U.S.-China trade dispute and the 25 percent tariff on U.S. cotton imported into China continues to be a wild card. ... Read More »
What are some major challenges? ■ In late January, the federal government was still shutdown and holding up such U.S. Department of Agriculture functions as direct and guaranteed loans for producers, marketing loans for cotton and other commodities, and sign-up for the Market Facilitation Program. The shutdown also halted the release of weekly cotton sales/shipments data and cotton prices as ... Read More »
How does the bill benefit the industry overall? ■ The continued safety net is especially crucial as much of the Cotton Belt faced devastating natural disasters during 2018, compounding producers’ financial strains from retaliatory trade tariffs on U.S. cotton. The bill includes many of our industry’s policy priorities — continuation of the Seed Cotton ARC/PLC program, full access to the ... Read More »
What’s the most pressing deadline? ■ Seed cotton became eligible for Title I Agriculture Risk Coverage/Price Loss Coverage beginning with the 2018 crop. Dec. 7 is the deadline for landowners and producers on farms with generic base acres to make the necessary decisions for this crop year. The following actions are part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Seed Cotton ... Read More »
From NAFTA re-negotiation to China tariffs, the National Cotton Council is communicating with government officials and legislators regarding trade policy issues to ensure the U.S. cotton industry has continued access to key markets. Is the NAFTA re-negotiation acceptable? ▪ The NCC is pleased the modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement preserved market access for U.S. cotton exports and ... Read More »
Over the past several months, the National Cotton Council (NCC) has actively conveyed to Congress the U.S. cotton industry’s priorities regarding the 2018 farm bill. How has the NCC been communicating the industry’s priorities? ▪ In mid-August, a letter from the NCC and 66 other cotton and related industry organizations was sent to 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee members as ... Read More »
Delivery of contamination-free bales to our textile mill customers is a must for U.S. cotton to compete against other growths and man-made fibers. How does contamination relate to U.S. cotton’s value? ■ Our industry recently emphasized U.S. cotton’s premium value to textile manufacturers in Vietnam, Bangladesh, China and India and will do likewise with manufacturers from all over the world ... Read More »
Cotton Farming One Grower Publications
