For Five Generations, The Legacy Continues… ⋅ BY CARROLL SMITH ⋅ EDITOR When a young, north Alabama girl wakes up to see ice forming in the glass on the bedside table, she knows they are living in hard times. Despite those early...

⋅ SPONSORED CONTENT ⋅ Greg Smith Buffalo Island Crop Services Lake City, Arkansas Both sides of my family always farmed cotton. It’s all I have ever known. Last year, the cotton crop got off to a good start although we did have a...

⋅ BY DR. GUY COLLINS ⋅ EXTENSION COTTON SPECIALIST NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY Farmers have been asking if starter or pop-up fertilizer is essential for cotton, or if it can be cut out of the budget. This is a relatively common question,...

The National Cotton Council’s leaders champion the cotton industry’s interests in Washington, D.C., advocating for crucial economic and legislative support. What was the purpose of the recent visit to Washington, D.C. by leaders of the NCC? NCC Chairman Patrick Johnson and...

Even today, the iconic line — Show me the money! — from the 1996 Tom Cruise movie Jerry Maguire still resonates in our culture in a multitude of contexts. However, the cotton market doesn’t seem to have gotten the...

I feel sorry for kids growing up today without a farm connection. They’re disconnected from how food and fiber are grown and distracted by modern technology — cell phones, streaming entertainment and social media. That’s far from the party-line...

“Billy Sickler, the Southeast Ginner of the Year, didn’t grow up in the gin business like so many of our previous recipients have,” said Ben Evans, outgoing president of the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association. “He was actually born in...

⋅ BY CARROLL SMITH ⋅ EDITOR In many areas of the Cotton Belt, farmers diversify their operations by growing a mix of crops such as cotton, peanuts and rice. They may rotate cotton and peanuts and grow row rice on heavier...

VIRGINIA | Hunter Frame April is burndown month for cotton here in Virginia and sprayers are covering as many acres as possible. As I write this in March, it looks like cotton acres will be up in Virginia as corn and...

Charles C. Owen Distinguished Service Award Announced The National Cotton Ginners Association recognized Tim Price as recipient of the NCGA’s 2024-25 Charles C. Owen Distinguished Service Award. This award honors those who have provided a career of distinguished service to...

⋅ BY BONNIE COBLENTZ ⋅ MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Insect pests are ongoing issues in row-crop farming, and deciding when, how and whether to treat is never a simple decision. Offered by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Row Crop Short...

⋅ BY JULIE MURPHREE ⋅ ARIZONA FARM BUREAU American and Arizona agriculture has seen remarkable technological advances in recent years, driven by the need to increase productivity, enhance sustainability and address challenges like labor shortages, water scarcity and food insecurity. These innovations are...

⋅ BY STACEY GORMAN ⋅ WARREN, ARKANSAS The Cotton Board is governed by its membership consisting of both cotton producers and importers. The importers serving on The Cotton Board represent major U.S. brands and retailers — significant downstream cotton users. The...

⋅ BY SCOTT H. GRAHAM ⋅ AUBURN UNIVERSITY Getting into the cotton business is an expensive endeavor and staying in it can be even more difficult. From highly specialized equipment needs, like pickers, to fertilizers or a bag of seed, few...

The National Cotton Council’s Strategic Planning Task Force is tackling the competitive challenge facing the cotton industry with innovative strategies to ensure a sustainable future. Why was the Strategic Planning Task Force established? The Strategic Planning Task Force was established to...