There's been a lot of negative talk lately about cotton: how it's lost its mojo and fallen out favor with consumers. In today’s market, cotton is challenged in significant ways as it has to compete with an oversupply of synthetic fibers, a fast evolving textile supply chain, and changing consumer attitudes toward natural fibers. Of course, cotton always has to contend with weather, insects, weeds, and other growing problems; farmers year in and year out face such production challenges. Even so, there's always the demand of the market that ultimately tells the story of the success or failure of a product. Over the past few years, it seems as though the textile supply chain and consumers prefer synthetics. Cotton has lost market share. I've written several critical commentaries about the cotton business in various publications over the past few months. Much of my concern has centered on the lack of focus on the part of the industry to address inroads made by synthetics. Further, there’s confusion in the market over cotton's message. The frankly fallacious campaign conducted by proponents of "green" production (at the expense of traditional growing practices) has only helped to undermine the benefits of cotton.

By Kelli Merritt [email protected] Perhaps the most unwieldy element I encounter as a producer is the market. It might feel like it’s the lack of rain, or the heat or even the surprise hailstorms, but really the most dynamic and unpredictable...

Editor Tommy Horton talks about the latest issue of Cotton Farming Magazine including: Cotton growers' attentions are turning to planting decisions for 2015 The 2015 Cotton Seed Variety Guide has been published.  

ALABAMA The northern Alabama cotton crop in late September and early October was one of the best looking cotton crops that I have seen in some time. Cotton pickers were hardly leaving any cotton in the fields. Two weeks of...

By Tommy Horton Editor The Jordan brothers – John, Steve and Mike – are proactive in their approach to cotton production and embracing new technology. In the midst of challenging weather conditions across much of the Cotton Belt this year, preliminary reports...

The format may have changed somewhat from previous years, but one fact remains consistent about the Beltwide Cotton Conferences (BWCC) in San Antonio, Texas, on Jan. 5-7. Timely information will be offered to attendees, and one of the most...

By Wayne Ebelhar Stoneville Miss. [email protected] George Washington once said, "I know of no pursuit in which more real and important services can be rendered to any country than by improving its agriculture." Having worked in agricultural research for 34 years in...

The Agricultural Act of 2014 is a farm law that features a greater reliance on crop insurance programs, and cotton producers need to understand their options before making program choices for 2015 crops. Are there any decision-making resources? USDA’s Risk Management...

The National Cotton Council (NCC) has scheduled 25 educational meetings across the Cotton Belt to provide its members with in-depth information regarding insurance options for cotton under The Agricultural Act of 2014. The first meeting will be on Nov. 10 and the last two meetings on Dec. 10. The meetings will provide an in-depth look at the new Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX) and the Supplemental Coverage Option. Coverage levels, expected yields and premium rates will be covered in detail in order to better equip producers with the information necessary to evaluate the insurance options for 2015. The schedule of meetings listed by state...

Many years ago, the process of choosing a new cotton seed variety was so much simpler – or at least it seemed that way. Obviously, the technology wasn’t nearly as advanced in those days. A producer pretty much had...

As heroic wildfire fights persist across California, recovery from last year's catastrophic forest fires continues – and the fight to restore watersheds, landscapes, lost homes and livelihoods affected by the 2013 Rim Fire in the Stanislaus National Forest has now shifted to the courtroom. Almost immediately after the Stanislaus forest supervisor issued a Rim Fire recovery plan last month, environmental groups went to court to prevent certain portions of it from being implemented. Specifically, the groups wanted to block plans for salvage logging on 15,000 acres of the 260,000 acres affected by the fire. Three environmental groups, including the Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity, filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to stop the logging. But that motion was denied by a judge last week. "While it remains to be seen whether the court will grant the plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction, this is a significant legal decision for the U.S...