U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Selects Third-Party Verification Partner
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has selected Control Union Certifications North America to implement an independent, third-party verification program for the Trust Protocol system. Data about Trust Protocol cotton is proven via Field to Market, measured via the Field Calculator and now will be verified by CUC.
Control Union Certifications has certified more than 150 programs worldwide, including working as a key partner in the early development and piloting phases of Field to Market’s Impact Claim Verification Protocol. CUC has also worked with the Better Cotton Initiative on its third-party verification programs in multiple countries.
U.S. cotton producers will complete a farming practices self-assessment and share their field data through Field to Market’s Fieldprint Platform. The CUC will verify the Trust Protocol annual data that will highlight key sustainability metrics, such as land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency.
“Control Union’s agriculture standards, experience and impeccable reputation will provide brands, retailers and consumers assurance that the cotton fiber sourced through the Trust Protocol is continually improving,” says Ken Burton, executive director of the Trust Protocol.
The Trust Protocol was recently added to Textile Exchange’s list of preferred fibers and materials. For more information, please visit https://TrustUsCotton.org.
Got Hog Damage? There’s An App For That
According to a Mississippi State University research study, feral pigs cause $66 million in property damage in the Magnolia State each year. With the wild hog population increasing and damage estimates constantly changing, it’s now easier to report and assess impacts with a newly designed MSU app.
The “Feral Pig Damage” app allows users to report the location of wild hog sightings and the damage they cause in real time. Users can pinpoint or draw a polygon on a specific location, upload photos, estimate economic loss and describe multiple attributes about the type of damage. These include crop type, whether it’s an agricultural, hardwood or pine area, as well as growth stage.
St. John Family Endowed Professor of Wildlife Management Bronson Strickland says he hopes the app helps provide a more complete picture of the intensity and location of damage to help refine economic estimates.
“The end result is to know where wild hog densities are greatest so that we can better manage those populations,” Strickland says.
The app is available for download in the Apple Store. Visit https://apple.co/3cJvkNJ. Android download is available at https://bit.ly/2XdiqAS.
To learn more, visit wildpiginfo.msstate.edu.
Vidalia Mills Helps Produce Healthcare Masks & Gowns
BASF’s e3 sustainable cotton farmers have a new story: Providing materials for workers on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.
Vidalia Mills is a North American maker of yarns and denim fabrics and e3 sustainable cotton partner. The facility has joined forces with Keep It Here, a Los Angeles-based manufacturer of T-shirts, jeans and other clothing, to produce and distribute surgical masks, gowns and face masks made from e3 sustainable cotton.
“Our mission for cotton sustainability is centered around connecting the entire farmer-to-retailer channel,” says Jennifer Crumpler, director, BASF e3 sustainable cotton program.
“We’re proud of our e3 sustainable cotton farmers and partners for taking that connection one step further by transforming sustainable cotton into crucial medical supplies needed during this unprecedented time.”
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/36c13EW.
‘Cold Front’ Line Designed To Beat The Summer Heat
Big Ass Fans, based in Lexington, Kentucky, has a new line of evaporative coolers — also known as swamp coolers — ready to attack and defeat stifling, stagnant air.
Cold Front comes in a range of sizes to fit different spaces and uses a standard 110 V power supply. The company says the coolers deliver a temperature reduction up to 33 degrees Fahrenheit.
Features include quiet, efficient variable-speed motors and thick, resin-treated media. The fans have an internal water reservoir supplied by a standard garden hose and are suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
For more details, visit bigassfans.com or call 877-244-3267.