Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the appointment of 17 members and 17 alternates to The Cotton Board. The Cotton Board is appointed by the Secretary to oversee the Cotton Research & Promotion Program. All appointees will serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2014, and ending Dec. 31, 2016.

When we look at our USDA estimated yield of 956 pounds per acre, most producers are disappointed. When comparing our yield with some of our other Delta states, we note that their yields were much higher. In my estimation, we had the potential, but it is hard to overcome the effects of three weeks of heavy rainfall in July and August.

In 1984, when I was fresh out of high school, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Ed Kowalski, who, at the time, was with the University of Missouri. About every 10 days, he came down to one of our local retailers, got a group of us together and taught us how to scout for thrips, plant bugs and worms during the pre-Bt days.

Since 2011, the Chinese government has purchased and stored almost 75 million bales of its production at a price well above world market prices. To meet its textile mills’ demand, about 20 million bales of that cotton have been sold, but as of early 2014, more than 50 million bales still resided in government storage.China’s stocks policy has been a recent boost for U.S. cotton farmers because its textile industry looked increasingly to the world market

Remember back in December when I was talking about some remarkable cotton crops produced last year in the Mid-South, Southeast and Southwest – even though weather conditions were less than ideal in those regions? Well, we stumbled onto one of those success stories in an area north of Lubbock, Texas, near Hale Center.

BY TOMMY HORTON EDITOR What was it like to attend the Beltwide Cotton Conferences in New Orleans a few weeks ago? Well, as expected, it was a different format. The attendance was about what officials anticipated – around 1,500. The weather...

BY TOMMY HORTON EDITOR If it’s February, it can only mean one thing. Winter is almost over, and spring can’t be too far away. It also means that the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is right around the corner. Those are...

It’s no surprise that gin equipment is expensive. And being operated three to four months per year means there are eight or more months to repair the gin. Most gins do a great job of tearing down machinery and...

BY BRENT MURPHREE MARICOPA, ARIZ. Large-scale solar energy use on Western cotton farms has been slow on the uptake. However, cotton ginners in the West have begun looking at solar energy options to help cut electrical costs during ginning season. Nationwide, energy...

As planting dates get closer, producers often think of two things: picking the best varieties and ensuring they mature safely through the growing season. Two new webcasts from “Focus on Cotton,” a joint publication project between Cotton Incorporated and...

BY BILL ROBERTSON NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL The 2014 Beltwide Cotton Conferences (BWCC) were planned with the overall goal of supporting research and Extension efforts that bolster the U.S. cotton production system. Held last month in New Orleans, the 2014 Beltwide focused on...

Bob Glodt of Plainview, Texas, Cotton Consultant of the Year (CCOY) for 2013, was recently honored at a special reception and dinner at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences in New Orleans. A crowd of more than 150 was on hand...

BY DARRYL EARNEST MEMPHIS, TENN. • Grew up in rural west Alabama. • B.S. in Industrial Engineering, Univ. of Alabama - 1990. • Started career in Greenwood, Miss., field office. • Served in Memphis 1991-2000, 2002-2005 and 2011-present; Washington DC 2000-2002 and 2005-2011. • Served...

BY TOMMY HORTON EDITOR When it comes to optimism about a new crop season, nobody exudes a positive attitude better than Texas cotton producers and ginners. Yes, the state is still in the midst of a three-year drought, but there are...

I couldn’t help but notice some of the reports that were coming out of the recent American Farm Bureau meeting in San Antonio on how journalists cover agriculture in the United States. It was an interesting panel discussion consisting...