This famous photograph of the historic Mont Helena home near Rolling Fork, Miss., says it all. Cotton spans generations of farm families and conjures up special feelings. Producers Adam Hatley (Arizona), Barry Evans (Texas), David Cochran (Mississippi) and Donny...
BY TOMMY HORTON
EDITOR
What are the odds of a young producer in the High Plains of Texas delivering five-bale cotton yields in 2011 and three-bale yelds in 2012? Initially, it seems impossible if you consider drought conditions that have existed...
JOSH ROLPH
CALIF. FARM BUREAU
I have heard it said many times the last few years that agriculture has been the bright spot in California's lagging economy. All data suggest that fair and open trade with foreign markets plays a significant...
Dr. Joel Faircloth
Pfafftown, N.C.
We are now "in the short rows" of making variety selection decisions. This may be the most critical decision a producer makes. Let's take a look at three elements of variety selection.
Field History
Variety selection should be...
BY BRUCE KIRKSEY
AGRICENTER INTERNATIONAL
MEMPHIS, TENN.
I have been involved in agricultural research for more than 25 years. Over these years, we in agriculture have experienced some outstanding new technologies, record yields, adverse weather conditions and many, many challenges. I have...
For more than a decade, I’ve had the opportunity to interview the Cotton Consultant of the Year winner each year, and it’s a job that I never get tired of. This award, co-sponsored by Cotton Farming and Syngenta,...
We are now just about a month away from heading to San Antonio for the annual Beltwide Cotton Conferences, which will be conducted on Jan. 7-10 at the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel. You’ll have to excuse me if I sound...
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have released two mobile phone applications, or "apps," to make things easier for anyone who needs to adjust insecticide spray equipment.
The apps were developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists Bradley...
The 2013 Beltwide Cotton Conferences in San Antonio will once again feature updates on research and technology at the annual Ginning Conference. Some technologies are becoming more and more economical and can easily be integrated into the gin operation.
One...
By Brent Murphreee
Maricopa, Ariz.
The Third International Lygus Symposium was held in Scottsdale, Ariz., in October and brought together the most important players in lygus research, with an impressive showing by Western cotton pest researchers.
The objectives of the previous symposiums...
By Christine Souza
Calif. Farm Bureau Federation
While Congress reconvenes for a post-election, "lame-duck" session, farmers and ranchers are urging their representatives to work together to address pressing issues facing agriculture.
Rayne Pegg, manager of the California Farm Bureau Federation Federal Policy...
By Tommy Horton
Editor
When an overseas retail representative sees U.S. cotton in the field for the first time, an important message is reinforced. In essence, it becomes a mutually beneficial situation for all parties.
That is precisely what happened last month...
Unless Congress acts before the end of the year, come Jan. 1, the U.S. economy will fall off a “fiscal cliff.” That’s when a number of tax breaks and government program spending will be cut in order to try...
By Andrew Macdonald
Cotton/Textile Consultant
ITMF Board Member
Meeting Customer Demands
What do customers want?
The fast evolution of the textile industry is moving toward a more demanding customer. It places product performance initially on the basic raw material, but performance also is being...
