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Tim Roberts grew up in Southeast Arkansas where farming was prevalent and many of the local teenagers worked as cotton scouts or “bug checkers” as they were called at the time. In 1977, Arkansas cotton consultant Ken Gilbert hired...

The Cotton Board is governed by its membership, which consists of both cotton producers and cotton importers. Importers serving on The Cotton Board represent various major U.S. brands and retailers – significant downstream users of cotton. The producers serving...

TCGA Annual Meeting & Trade show BY TONY WILLIAMS TCGA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT As cotton planters prepare to roll across Texas, a feeling of anticipation is in the air — and for good reason. Most areas experienced an exceptional crop in 2016,...

Southern Southeastern ANNUAL MEETING By Carroll Smith Editor Southeast cotton producers and ginners gathered in Charlotte, N.C., prior to the beginning of the 2017 season to meet and share ideas about how to address important issues that affect the industry on...

Alabama Farmer Anticipates 69th Crop By Carroll Smith Editor When referencing events that happened almost a century ago, most people preface their anecdotes with, “I have a photograph.” Otis Shiver begins his stories with, “I remember….” This 93-year-old cotton farmer was born...

Decision-Making Help From managing a pest flare-up to maximizing yield and quality under extreme weather, cotton producers can get valuable decision-making help from the annual National Cotton Council-coordinated Beltwide Cotton Conferences (BWCC). How is information presented at the BWCC? Individual research reports,...

By Carroll Smith, Editor For the past century, Johnny Griffin’s family ties are woven into the fabric that is North Carolina agriculture. During the early part of that era, cotton and tobacco were grown as cash crops primarily by tenant...

By Kevin Hecteman Editor’s note: An article published in an earlier edition of Cotton Farming inaccurately stated the current minimum wage in California. The following article and charts reflect the accurate numbers. Right about the time most bleary-eyed revelers were yelling...

Aaron Martinka Editor’s note: Cotton Farming editor Carroll Smith went into the field this fall to capture the story of farmers’ experiences with the new Deltapine Bollgard II XtendFlex varieties. Following is her special report. Texas cotton producer Aaron Martinka, who...

By Carroll Smith, Editor Cody Ewing farms with his grandfather, Jerry Marsh, in Blount County, Ala., between Huntsville and Birmingham. Marsh began farming cotton many years ago, ventured into soybeans in the 1980s, and later tried his hand at fruits and...

Jay Beckhusen ‘Silver Lining’ Emerges On The Heels Of Adverse Weather Editor’s note: Cotton Farming editor Carroll Smith went into the field this fall to capture the story of farmers’ experiences with the new Deltapine Bollgard II XtendFlex varieties. Following is...

Daniel Baxley Late Weather Challenges Strong Start Editor’s note: Cotton Farming editor Carroll Smith went into the field this fall to capture the story of farmers’ experiences with the new Deltapine Bollgard II XtendFlex varieties. Following is her special report. In 1948, Roy...

By Bob Hutmacher Extension Specialist/Agronomist University of California Despite the continuing impacts of a long-term drought in California, quite a few cotton growers in the San Joaquin Valley saw some good to excellent yields in 2016. The exceptions were certain...

On Dec. 3, 2016, Team Cotton participated in the St. Jude Marathon Weekend race events in Memphis, Tenn. Team Cotton had 25 runners representing The Cotton Board, Cotton Incorporated, USDA and the National Cotton Council. Team Cotton members traveled...

Among challenges to the U.S. cotton industry’s competitiveness are securing an improved safety net for producers, making inroads against the competition from man-made fibers, maintaining U.S. cotton’s supply chain reputation and averting burdensome regulations. Is cottonseed policy attainable? Obtaining cottonseed eligibility...