As ginning season approaches and the COVID-19 pandemic continues, take a close look at your operation to mitigate the risk to your workers and business as much as possible. Be sure to develop a COVID-19 policy and have a...
The Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better known as Cal/OSHA, released a new regulation in California specifying lighting requirements for operation of agricultural equipment at night and agricultural employees who are working at night.
The regulation went into effect...
As I write this, the coronavirus numbers are just as confusing as they were when this whole thing started. No one knows exactly what is going on and how this odd disease seems to work and/or affect individuals.
What we...
William Beam, U.S. Department of Agriculture deputy administrator for farm programs, notified the National Cotton Council that the Joint Cotton Industry Bale Packaging Committee 2020 specification recommendations for cotton bale packaging materials are approved for Commodity Credit Corp. loan...
Arkansas cotton gins may still be a long way from the heyday of the year 2000, when 86 gins across the state processed the fiber of 1.2 million cotton acres. But as both acreage and production increased in 2019...
Assisting students interested in pursuing agriculture is critical to the long-term viability of the industry. They are enthusiastic about learning new skills and eager to share their vision about what needs to be accomplished in the future. Providing these...
The National Cotton Ginners Association recently canceled all 2020 Ginner Schools due to the uncertainties regarding reopening dates for states and travel restrictions placed on instructors.
NCGA Executive Director Harrison Ashley says, “After 33 continuous years of Ginner Schools, the...
A precision agriculture and cotton ginning expert is the new head of Mississippi State’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
J. Alex Thomasson will take the reins of the MSU department effective July 1, pending approval of the State Board...
Jennifer Erickson, regulatory counsel at the Food and Drug Administration, spoke to a gathering of cotton ginners at the National Cotton Council Annual Meeting in February. The presentation took place during the National Cotton Ginners’ Association Board of Directors...
Ron Craft, general manager of New-Tex Gin in Plains, Texas, is the 2019 Horace Hayden National Cotton Ginner of the Year. Smith has served in many U.S. cotton industry leadership capacities and provided years of dedicated service.
The annual National...
Don Daily with Dexter Supply Co., also known as Modern Gin Co., was recently honored as the 2019 Southeastern Ginner of the Year at the Southern Southeastern Annual Meeting in Savannah, Georgia.
Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association President Drake Perrow presented...
As I write this mid-November, harvest has not been progressing as expected in West Texas and the Rolling Plains, primarily due to unfavorable weather conditions.
In the Rolling Plains of Texas, Dr. Emi Kimura reports from Vernon that their first...
The Texas cotton Ginners’ Association has received several calls this year with questions about two Occupational Safety and Health Administration reporting rules. Here is a quick recap of how each rule works.
First, there is the illness and injury reporting...
When this article is published, ginning season should be in high gear across most of the country. There’s a lot going on to get into the swing of things. I always worry that safety slips through the cracks as...
Unencumbered flow of uncontaminated cotton into the marketplace continues to be a National Cotton Council priority.
What about contamination prevention?
■ The NCC strongly urges producers and gin managers to have their entire harvest and ginning crews watch the updated NCC-produced “Prevention...
