• By Carroll Smith,
Editor •
It’s time to pack up and head to one of the largest indoor farm shows in the Southern region. The 67th Annual Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is scheduled For March 1-2 at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee.
Visitors are invited to attend the Southern Cotton Ginners Association and Foundation Annual Meetings that will kick off Thursday, Feb. 28, at 1:30 p.m. in the Peabody Hotel.
A panel of experts will discuss “Ag Research and New Opportunities.” Members of the panel include Dr. Jane Dever, Texas A&M, Lubbock, Texas; Kater Hake, vice president, agricultural and environmental research, Cotton Incorporated; and Jay Mahaffey, Bayer Learning Center, Scott, Mississippi.
Ag Update Meetings
The show officially begins Friday morning with ag update meetings held at the Cook Convention Center. The program commences at 8:30 a.m. K. Michael Tate, National Cotton Council, will discuss cotton issues; and Joe Nicosia, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, will discuss the outlook for U.S. and world cotton.
Immediately following Nicosia’s presentation, the Ag Market Network will broadcast its March Cotton Teleconference. The panel will be made up of Dr. O.A. Cleveland, professor emeritus, Mississippi State University and global cotton market analyst; Paul E. Bush, president and CEO of Calcot; Kip Butts, senior cotton analyst, Informa Economics, and Pat McClatchy, executive director of the Ag Market Network. They will discuss the latest outlook for cotton prices and make marketing suggestions as well as answer questions from the audience.
Show manager Tim Price says, “With Ag Market Network included in the ag update, we will have a lot of cotton power in one room. We’ve expanded our Friday morning cotton outlook to include Joe Nicosia plus the Ag Market Network broadcast. Anyone interested in cotton doesn’t want to miss this program.”
On Friday, the trade show opens at 9 a.m. Hundreds of exhibitors will be on hand to provide the latest information suited to the region’s diversified operations.
Educational activities resume Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with another important ag update meeting. During this session, Richard Brock, Brock Associates, will provide a grain market outlook and his unique insight into grain marketing and the challenges farmers face in 2019.
The Exhibit Hall re-opens at 9 a.m. Saturday, and a rice marketing seminar convenes at 1:30 p.m. featuring Milo Hamilton.
Pre-Register Now
Cash prizes will be awarded throughout the show, and the popular puppy giveaway will take place Friday and Saturday at 3 p.m. Show closing times are 5 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, respectively. The weekend festivities are topped off in the Grand Ballroom at the Peabody Hotel with the annual Jamboree, featuring the Krackerjacks, at 9 p.m.
This year’s informative and family friendly show again promises to be an event you don’t want to miss.
“For cotton, we clearly are in a different environment than what we were a few years ago in terms of cotton acreage and increased energy surrounding this crop,” Price says. “I think that is exciting. The Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is a good way for people to get updated on the current dynamics of cotton.”
Go to www.farmandginshow.com to pre-register. Also be sure to download the 2019 Farm and Gin Show app for show schedules, exhibitor locations, ag updates, things to do in Memphis and other show details.
Please drop by Booth #3005 to say hello to the One Grower Publishing crew. We look forward to seeing you!