Cotton’s Agenda

The National Cotton Council-coordinated 2021 Beltwide Cotton Conferences will employ a virtual platform to share cutting-edge research results and other timely information for making key production/marketing-related decisions. ■ Why the online format? The BWCC annually brings together university/U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers, regulatory agency and Extension personnel/agents, consultants and industry sales/support staff to exchange information about research results, new products ... Read More »

The National Cotton Council soon will submit comments in response to an EPA proposal that could negatively affect the way Bt crop resistance is managed. What does the proposal entail? ■ Early in September, the Environmental Protection Agency released its “Draft Proposal to Improve Lepidopteran Resistance Management.” The draft indicates EPA has accepted that some species of caterpillar pests already ... Read More »

Despite COVID-19, the National Cotton Council efforts to increase producer enrollment in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and escalate the program’s global credibility gained momentum this summer. What are the most recent developments? ■ Overall, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is increasingly fostering cooperation between producers and brands/retailers, which were able to officially join the Trust Protocol beginning in mid-July. ... Read More »

The National Cotton Council worked closely with EPA and agribusiness allies to ensure dicamba’s continued availability. What was the threat to dicamba? ■ After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated the 2018 registration of Xtendimax, FeXapan and Engenia dicamba herbicides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act in June, the NCC immediately sent a letter ... Read More »

The NCC urged additional CARES Act funding be authorized for the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. What recent steps has the NCC taken? ■ One of the more important actions in the past two months was NCC’s coordination with Congressional allies to include important agricultural, small business and tax relief measures in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security ... Read More »

With the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol’s launch underway this summer, the National Cotton Council was very pleased to learn that the industry’s sustainability initiative is now included in the Textile Exchange’s list of preferred fibers/materials. Why is this inclusion significant? ■ The Trust Protocol, which has a goal of confirming and increasing awareness that U.S. cotton producers are farming responsibly, ... Read More »

The National Cotton Council is taking every available opportunity to ensure our members get assistance and resources for help in navigating the COVID-19 negatively altered business landscape. How has the U.S. cotton industry been affected? ■ The April U.S. Department of Agriculture supply/demand estimates indicate world cotton consumption was down 7.6 million bales (6.4%) from the March report. The report ... Read More »