ABWEF To Award Rebate To Cotton Farmers
The Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation (ABWEF) board of directors voted Feb. 7 to authorize the distribution of a $1 per acre cash rebate to growers for reported 2023 cotton acres registered with the Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Program. A total payout of $485,730 will be returned to Arkansas cotton farmers.
“Production agriculture has never been more expensive and financially burdensome on the growers than it is today,” said Joe Mencer, a grower from Chicot County and ABWEF Chairman. “We’re pleased to support the grower in this way to alleviate some of those financial pressures and return their money to their pockets.”
“The board is committed to the stewardship and effective use of the dollars we’re entrusted with to reduce expenses while maintaining exceptional service,” said Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation Executive Director Regina Coleman. “This rebate is another way we support our growers and protect their bottom lines.”
The Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation began eradication operations in 1997, making annual expansions that ultimately grew to include all cotton-producing areas in the state. ABWEF successfully eradicated the boll weevil in Arkansas in 2008. Since then, ABWEF continues to operate under a maintenance program, monitoring the state for the presence of boll weevils, which is entirely a prevention effort.
Learn more about ABWEF and its mission to protect the Arkansas cotton industry at ABWEP.org.
Enversa Herbicide Offers Flexible, Lasting Weed Control
Corteva continues its drive to deliver farmer-focused solutions with the launch of Enversa herbicide. The new versatile solution received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration in December 2023.
Pending state registrations, Enversa herbicide is expected to be available for use on cotton, soybeans, corn, sorghum, peanuts and sugar beets in the 2025 growing season.
“Enversa is a residual herbicide that will handle some of the toughest, hard-to-control broadleaf and grass weeds that farmers face today,” says Shawna Hubbard, strategic marketing manager, Corteva Agriscience. “This will be the first soybean and cotton herbicide in Corteva’s portfolio to feature a proprietary encapsulated acetochlor component to help protect plants from emerging weeds.”
The encapsulated acetochlor complements tankmix partners by allowing Enversa herbicide to move from the leaf surface and drive to the soil, resulting in a residual barrier around the soybean or cotton plant.
In addition to its versatility across crops, Enversa herbicide provides farmers with a wide application window — preplant up to R2 for soybeans and preplant up to first bloom for cotton — to help navigate challenging weather conditions. Enversa herbicide offers easy handling and tankmix compatibility, particularly with Enlist One herbicide for Enlist E3 soybeans and Enlist cotton.
“Enversa is designed to serve farmers by providing high crop tolerance along with the residual weed control they’ve come to expect with Group 15 herbicides as part of their weed control program,” Hubbard says.
Enversa herbicide delivers extended weed control for up to four weeks on more than 25 of the toughest broadleaf and grass weeds, including Palmer amaranth and waterhemp. In addition to compatibility with Enlist One herbicide for Enlist E3 soybeans, Enversa herbicide will fit perfectly into a program approach along with other Corteva Agriscience soybean herbicides, such as Sonic and Trivence.
To learn more about Enversa herbicide, talk with your local Corteva representative or visit Corteva.us/Enversa.
Trust Protocol Expands Regional Field-Level Grower Support System
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is introducing an expanded field-level team dedicated to providing regional support for U.S. cotton growers participating in the voluntary sustainability initiative. This includes aiding producers with finalizing Trust Protocol enrollment and data entry as well as applications for the Climate Smart Cotton Program by the April 30 midnight deadline.
Charles “Chaz” Holt is serving as Director of Field Programs and will lead the team, which also includes Tillman White serving as Program Manager. Field-level Grower Enrollment Specialists have also been added to the team, which will provide not only cotton industry resources and networks, but also the ability to tailor their services to the unique needs of the Cotton Belt region they serve. Grower Enrollment Specialists include Bailey Nesmith serving the High Plains & West Region, Willis Frazer in the Mid-South, and Maryn Findley for the Southeast.
“Each region of the Cotton Belt presents its own distinct set of opportunities and challenges, with no one-size-fits all approach to production,” said Daren Abney, executive director of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “In 2023, we experienced our largest enrollment of planted U.S. cotton acres yet, which further underscores our producers’ commitment to sustainability and progress. As we move forward, our field-level team is available to offer regionally relevant support to growers as they make continuous improvements. This momentum builds upon the growth in our global supply chain membership, which now includes 40+ companies and their brands, alongside more than 2,000 mill and manufacturer members.”
For the 2023 crop year, more than 1.7m planted cotton acres were enrolled in the Trust Protocol, representing almost a quarter (23%) of the Cotton Belt. Growers who completed their enrollment during either period in 2023 need to re-enroll for the 2024 crop year.
During enrollment, growers can apply for the Climate Smart Cotton Program, which provides producers with financial and technical support to de-risk the implementation and adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture practices while potentially reducing costs and boosting efficiencies. For brands and retailers, the program aims to help support efforts to improve their greenhouse gas emissions reductions and reporting.
The Climate Smart Cotton program began less than one year ago and has already approved applications for 778 farming entities in Level 1 of the 1,650 available, including 330 from historically underserved communities. Growers are encouraged to get started today as applications are reviewed on a first-come-first-serve basis.
To complete enrollment in the Trust Protocol and apply for the Climate Smart Cotton Program ahead of the April 30 midnight deadline, visit TrustUSCotton.org.
Nicosia To Lead The National Cotton Council in 2024
Joe Nicosia, a Cordova, Tennessee, merchant, was elected National Cotton Council chairman for 2024 during the organization’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida.
Patrick Johnson, a producer from Tunica, Mississippi, will serve as vice chairman for 2024.
Nicosia has been a member of the board of directors of the National Cotton Council since 2011, was a segment vice president from 2014 to 2020, and currently also serves on the Executive Committee.
He has served on multiple NCC committees including current membership on the NCC Farm Policy Task Force and the Performance and Standards Task Force.
Nicosia is the Global Trading Operations Officer for Louis Dreyfus Co. as well as the Head of the Cotton Platform. He is also the Executive Vice President of Louis Dreyfus Co. LLC and Chief Executive Officer of Allenberg Cotton Co.
In 1981, Nicosia completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Dartmouth College and immediately embarked on his career as a grain trader at the Louis Dreyfus Co. in Minneapolis. The following year, he transferred to Allenberg Cotton Co. and in 1985 assumed responsibility for cotton trading worldwide.
He is active in several cotton industry associations and is a past chairman and serves on the board of directors of the American Cotton Shippers Association (ACSA). He is also the long-time chairman of the Futures Committee of ACSA.
Elected as a NCC vice president was Mike Quinn, a manufacturer from Sanford, North Carolina.
Re-elected as NCC vice presidents were Hank N. Reichle, Jr., a Greenwood, Mississippi, cooperative official; Raymond Faus, a Richardson, Texas, merchant; Sammy Wright, a Tifton, Georgia, cottonseed processor; Kirk Gilkey, a Corcoran, California, ginner; and Jay Cowart, an Altus, Oklahoma, warehouser. Reelected as secretary-treasurer is Mark McKean, a producer from Riverdale, California.
Re-elected as NCC staff officers were Gary Adams, president and chief executive officer; Marjory Walker, vice president, Operations; Jody Campiche, vice president, Economics and Policy Analysis; John Gibson, vice president, Member Services; Tas Smith, vice president, Producer Affairs; Harrison Ashley, vice president, Ginner Services; Chad Brewer, vice president, Technical Services; and Robbie Minnich, vice president, Washington Operations.
Zalo Herbicide Receives Federal Registration For 2024
AMVAC Chemical Corp. is pleased to announce that Zalo herbicide, enabled by ProLease technology, has received federal registration.
Zalo is now registered for early to mid-post-emergence use in glufosinate trait-enabled soybean, cotton and canola. In addition, the label will include pome and stone fruit crops. Zalo will be available for the spring 2024 season following state registrations.
“We are very excited to be able to bring Zalo to market because of the significant advantages it provides farmers. In addition to broad spectrum broadleaf weed control, Zalo provides enhanced grass weed control with crop safety,” says AMVAC Corn, Soybean, and Sugar Beet Marketing Manager, Mark Foster. “Zalo combines multiple active ingredients and modes of action to take weed control up a level, delivering control of labeled broadleaf weeds plus control of labeled annual and perennial grass species, including non-Enlist traited volunteer corn.”
Zalo is a premix of glufosinate (the active ingredient in Liberty 280 SL herbicide) and quizalofop (the active ingredient in Assure II herbicide) — two proven active ingredients in one powerful formulation. Strong control of broadleaf weeds is combined with broad-spectrum control of annual grasses including non-Enlist traited volunteer corn, giant foxtail, fall panicum, and shattercane, and perennial grasses, including johnsongrass and quackgrass.
“Zalo also stands apart from other herbicides because it is enabled by ProLease technology, a unique process developed by AMVAC that protects the herbicide molecules from performance inhibitors, allowing them to reach the target weed where the molecules are released for superior activity,” says Foster. “Specifically, research shows that ProLease technology helps overcome degradation, separation and compatibility or mixing issues in the container and as a mixture in the sprayer.”
Zalo is designed for grower applicators and custom applicators with the following needs:
Glufosinate users who want a simple, more consistent performing product for grass control versus glufosinate alone.
Those who are currently tankmixing fop or dim ingredients with glufosinate and looking for convenience, better spray tank product stability and less container disposal.
Those looking for an alternating treatment with an auxin herbicide on Enlist or XtendFlex crops for resistance management.
Growers needing broad-spectrum broadleaf and grass weed control beyond mandated dicamba “cutoff” dates.
Zalo is a superior liquid technology with an easy-to-understand rate structure. The use rate of Zalo is similar to that of a 280 formulation of glufosinate, while delivering two active ingredients for enhanced weed control.
Academic and private contract research in 2023 show that Zalo provided 9 percentage points better grass and weed control than Liberty 280 SL herbicide. When compared to generic glufosinate, the Zalo control advantage was even greater, outperforming on both labeled grass and broadleaf control.
When considering price and performance, Zalo enabled by ProLease technology is an effective treatment for early to mid-post control of labeled grass and broadleaf weeds.