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merri.day / agrilife.org Agriculture has always faced uncertainty. Although agricultural risk management has come a long way in recent years, producers face a multifaceted risk landscape that is constantly changing due to unpredictable weather, evolving regulatory frameworks, and volatile markets....

Low prices, a difficult growing season and expensive inputs could spell a shift away from cotton for growers in 'survival mode.' (Division of Agriculture photo.) SARAH CATO LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS With excessive rainfall at planting and hot, dry weather mid-season, Arkansas cotton...

ERIC STANN COLUMBIA, MISSOURI For generations, farmers have used natural materials such as lime, gypsum and manure to improve their soil for growing crops. Now, a team of researchers led by the University of Missouri is giving new purpose to an...

USDA Announces 2025 Cotton Loan Rate Differentials The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation has announced the 2025 crop loan rate differentials for upland and extra-long staple cotton. The differentials, also referred to as loan rate premiums and discounts, were calculated...

Maximize Cotton Emergence By Ensuring Your Planter Is Ready ⋅ BY WES PORTER ⋅ UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA Cotton planting season has arrived, so be sure that your equipment is ready to go. This season is going to be tough on cotton with...

⋅ BY CARROLL SMITH ⋅ EDITOR In cotton, nematodes have been called the invisible enemy, the threat beneath the soil and other ominous names. They tend to attack the plant’s roots — which increases susceptibility to disease — hinder water and...

⋅ BY DR. GUY COLLINS ⋅ EXTENSION COTTON SPECIALIST NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY Farmers have been asking if starter or pop-up fertilizer is essential for cotton, or if it can be cut out of the budget. This is a relatively common question,...

⋅ BY CARROLL SMITH ⋅ EDITOR In many areas of the Cotton Belt, farmers diversify their operations by growing a mix of crops such as cotton, peanuts and rice. They may rotate cotton and peanuts and grow row rice on heavier...

Charles C. Owen Distinguished Service Award Announced The National Cotton Ginners Association recognized Tim Price as recipient of the NCGA’s 2024-25 Charles C. Owen Distinguished Service Award. This award honors those who have provided a career of distinguished service to...

⋅ BY BONNIE COBLENTZ ⋅ MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Insect pests are ongoing issues in row-crop farming, and deciding when, how and whether to treat is never a simple decision. Offered by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Row Crop Short...

⋅ BY JULIE MURPHREE ⋅ ARIZONA FARM BUREAU American and Arizona agriculture has seen remarkable technological advances in recent years, driven by the need to increase productivity, enhance sustainability and address challenges like labor shortages, water scarcity and food insecurity. These innovations are...

The Georgia Cotton Commission’s Trustees’ Awards were presented at the 2025 Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting January 29 in Tifton. The Trustees’ Awards are awarded to individuals who have dedicated themselves to the advancement of the cotton industry in...

⋅ BY KEITH EDMISTEN AND GUY COLLINS ⋅ COTTON EXTENSION SPECIALISTS — CROP AND SOIL SCIENCES NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY The key to successful cotton production in North Carolina is the adoption of a short-season management strategy. Cotton growers may equate short-season...

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Opens 2025 Enrollment U.S. cotton growers can now enroll in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and apply for the Climate Smart Cotton Program for the 2025 crop year. The Climate Smart Cotton Program, led by the Trust...

Bill Webster grew up in Limestone County, Alabama, on the Tennessee Valley Regional Research and Extension Center farm in Belle Mina where his father “Dub” Webster was the assistant superintendent and later retired as director. At its peak, 13...