Cotton's Agenda

How have U.S. cotton’s priorities been conveyed? ■ At a recent USDA listening session, the NCC shared the industry’s needs for implementation of 2018 farm law programs administered by the Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency and Natural Resources Conservation...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

The NCC continues to work with U.S. cotton’s supporters in the House and Senate to achieve the industry’s policy priorities in farm legislation. The National Cotton Council (NCC) believes that House-passed farm legislation more fully addresses the U.S. cotton and...

With the U.S. cotton industry ramping up sustainability efforts and consumers voicing their trust in our fiber, the National Cotton Council is encouraged that more light is being shed on a man-made fiber situation some believe is not sustainable. How...

The National Cotton Council identified multiple priorities it must address to continue effectively representing the U.S. cotton industry on legislative and regulatory issues. What are some key priorities? • A major concern is ensuring an effective safety net for cotton producers...

The National Cotton Council prepared a document that provides significant clarity regarding the new Seed Cotton Program that was contained in recently enacted legislation. What’s the major policy change? • As noted in the March column, the Bipartisan Budget Act of...

Restoring economic stability for the U.S. cotton industry, which includes remaining active in the trade and regulatory arenas, continues to dominate the National Cotton Council’s agenda. What about recent policy changes? • We were very pleased with Agriculture Secretary Sonny...

U.S. cotton producers’ safety net was bolstered with Congress’ recent passage of “seed cotton” farm policy — an action the National Cotton Council has diligently sought for more than two years. What was the basic action taken? Congress recently enacted the...

How do the Beltwide Cotton Conferences contribute? The BWCC provides the findings from cutting edge research and technology aimed at increasing productivity. The performances, both good and bad, of crop inputs and production systems are examined along with other cotton...