A National Cotton Council priority has been and continues to be shoring up cotton producers’ income protection and maintaining viable risk management programs. What were major efforts in this arena? ■ During the past four years, the NCC worked diligently with Congress and the Administration to return Upland cotton as a covered commodity in Title I of farm law and ... Read More »
The NCC webinars included a focus on differences in 2014 and 2018 farm law Title 1 programs. Is the webinar presentation available? ■ The NCC’s webinar presentation is on the NCC website (www.cotton.org) and a 24-minute video is on the NCC’s YouTube channel. It features Dr. Jody Campiche, the NCC’s vice president of Economics and Policy Analysis discussing the webinar’s ... Read More »
Now that sign-up for the 2018 farm law has begun, National Cotton Council staff will be conducting farm law education webinars. The dates and times (all Central) are: Thursday, Sept. 19, 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 23, 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m. All cotton industry members and other interested parties are urged to participate ... Read More »
The National Cotton Council’s 2019 priorities are aimed at enhancing industry efficiency and economic stability. What about key policy issues? ■ Two major near-term priorities are pressing Congress to approve legislation that would provide disaster assistance for producers devastated by Hurricanes Florence and Michael and working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on 2018 farm law implementation. Regarding the ... Read More »
How have U.S. cotton’s priorities been conveyed? ■ At a recent USDA listening session, the NCC shared the industry’s needs for implementation of 2018 farm law programs administered by the Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service. NCC staff’s input included acknowledging the timely guidance that FSA and RMA issued regarding producer options for STAX or ... Read More »
How does the bill benefit the industry overall? ■ The continued safety net is especially crucial as much of the Cotton Belt faced devastating natural disasters during 2018, compounding producers’ financial strains from retaliatory trade tariffs on U.S. cotton. The bill includes many of our industry’s policy priorities — continuation of the Seed Cotton ARC/PLC program, full access to the ... Read More »
• By Kevin Hecteman • With one house of Congress set to flip to Democratic control next year, agricultural advocates focused on a post-election, “lame-duck” session as an opportunity to resolve lingering issues including farm policy and budget appropriations. Josh Rolph, federal policy manager for the California Farm Bureau Federation, says Congress needs to work immediately on appropriations bills. A current ... Read More »
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