More in Cotton

Feb. 12, 2013

Article

Farm bills should be designed for times of low prices

Among all the unanswered questions about the farm bill, one thing is certain: farmers will operate under the 2008 law through 2013. That means they get a direct payment on eligible crops....More
Feb. 12, 2013

Article

Tennessean to Lead National Cotton Ginners Association

The Memphis-based National Cotton Ginners Association (NCGA) elected its 2013 officers on February 8 during its annual meeting in Memphis, Tenn....More
Feb. 12, 2013

Article

Dodson to Lead the National Cotton Council in 2013

James F. “Jimmy” Dodson, a Robstown, Texas, cotton producer, was elected National Cotton Council (NCC) chairman for 2013. Named during the NCC’s annual meeting held in Memphis on Feb. 8-10, he served as the NCC’s vice chairman in 2012 and succeeds producer C.B. “Chuck” Coley, a Vienna, Ga. A third generation farmer, Dodson...More
Feb. 12, 2013

Article

Cotton outlook shaped by China’s policy; man-made fibers competition

National Cotton Council economists say cotton’s 2013 outlook will be influenced by China’s policy decisions and continued competition from man-made fiber (MMF)....More
Feb. 11, 2013

Article

National Cotton Council Survey projects 9.01 million acres of cotton in 2013

Southwest cotton acres could drop by 24.4 percent in 2013, according to the National Cotton Council’s 30th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey....More
Feb. 7, 2013

Article

Prevention is best strategy for resistant weed management

Dealing with Palmer amaranth—pigweed—is nothing new for the Texas High Plains. It’s always claimed the number one spot on the list of weed problems for cotton farmers....More
Feb. 7, 2013

Article

Program helps growers get better handle on cotton industry issues

The Policy Education Program (PEP) is now in its 15th year of giving U.S. cotton producers an opportunity to learn more about the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) policy development/implementation process and the issues affecting the industry....More
Feb. 5, 2013

video

Weed scientists recommending more than herbicides for fighting resistance on High Plains: Part II

Cotton farmers, particularly those accustomed to spaying a single herbicide on their crops, may need to dust off some of the old equipment and herbicides they or their fathers used in the 1980s and 90s. Texas A&M University’s Wayne Keeling explained why during this presentation at Monsanto’s Weed and Water Summit in Lubbock, Texas....More
Feb. 4, 2013

video

West Texas farmers should build moisture reserve

Latest weather forecasts indicate West Texas farmers could be facing another year of less than favorable moisture conditions. Bob Glodt, research manager for Agri-Search Inc., says growers should be looking for ways to build moisture reserves before they reach peak bloom in their cotton. Glodt spoke at Monsanto/Deltapine’s Weed and Water Summit in Lubbock, Texas, Jan. 31. More than 80 farmers attended the summit....More
Feb. 4, 2013

Commentary

Indian farmer suicides a case of misplaced GM blame

The tragedy of Indian farmer suicides can be attributed to a complex host of factors, and consigning blame for the suicides to Monsanto and corporate agriculture is guaranteed to get headlines and cheap applause, but such claims do not stand up to proper scrutiny....More
Feb. 1, 2013

Article

King Cotton and Prince Peanut expecting tough times in 2013

Cotton and peanuts have traditionally been among crop royalty in the South. Historically, if cotton is to be called king, surely peanuts would be the crown prince, but both are likely to face severe challenges for acreage in the upcoming 2013 planting season....More
Jan. 30, 2013

Article

Cotton industry concerned with pesticide blame in honey bee decline

Recent surveys of beekeepers have indicated the greatest concerns were starvation, weather, weak colonies in the fall and lack of mite control -- yet most news media outlets have provided the public with stories related to pesticides....More
Jan. 24, 2013

video

Westward expansion – Palmer amaranth showing up in increasing numbers in Texas counties

After years of listening to tales of epic battles with pigweed in the Southeast, Texas cotton producers no longer can afford to be interested bystanders in the battle against glyphosate-resistant weeds. Texas A&M’s Paul Baumann says growers need to be prepared to kill every amaranthus species weed they see in their fields to hope to have any success against them. He spoke at this year’s Beltwide Cotton Conferences in San Antonio....More
Jan. 23, 2013

video

Cotton Incorporated seeking to make big splash with new cottonseed oils

Are you a jalapeno fan? A hot habanero enthusiast? Cotton Incorporated is working on just the product for you....More
Jan. 23, 2013

Article

Ag secretary addresses Brazil, U.S. cotton issue

On several recent occasions, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack has referenced the importance of resolving the longstanding Brazil WTO case through new farm policy while expressing 1) concern about Congressional failure to act on long-term policy and 2) questions about continuing to transfer funds to Brazil as part of an agreement to prevent retaliation....More
Jan. 23, 2013

Article

New herbicide technology in pipeline for cotton, soybeans

Soybean and cotton growers are likely to get some new weed control technology over the next 2-3 years and using it properly is going to be critical to both its early success and its longevity....More
Jan. 23, 2013

Article

Could new crop cotton reach 85 cents?

Can new crop cotton hit 85 cents? Maybe so, as long as demand remains strong, say cotton analysts...More
Jan. 17, 2013

Article

AgriLife Extension cotton economist shares observations on China trip

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service cotton economist John Robinson recently toured what he calls “the West Texas of China,” trekking to southern Xinjiang to get a first-hand look at farming and harvesting practices....More
Jan. 16, 2013

video

China’s reserve policies mystifying world’s cotton analysts

Last year, the Chinese government only had a gap of 5 million bales between what the country’s farmers grew and what its textile manufacturing sector was expected to spin. Yet China imported 24.5 million bales of cotton from around the world....More
Jan. 14, 2013

Article

Managing resistant weeds demands systems approach

Resistant weeds are putting farmers out of business. In some cases, lack of adequate weed control from usual programs results in lost yield, in some cases loss of an entire crop as weeds overwhelm fields and outcompete cotton or grains. In other cases, landowners may take farms away from producers who do not manage herbicide-resistant weeds adequately, says Tom Eubank, Mississippi State University weed specialist....More
Jan. 14, 2013

Article

Total removal is goal for resistant weed population 2

Grant no mercy to suspected herbicide-resistant weeds. If it’s alive after harvest or remains green in-season following prescribed herbicide applications, do whatever is necessary to remove the offensive pest from the field....More
Jan. 11, 2013

Article

Jane Dever Is 2012 Cotton Genetics Research Award Recipient

Dr. Jane Dever, associate professor-cotton breeder for Texas AgriLife Research in Lubbock, is the recipient of the 2012 Cotton Genetics Research Award....More
Jan. 11, 2013

video

Trying to keep up with 2013 cotton planting intentions is a puzzle

Most observers expect U.S. cotton producers to reduce acreage in 2013. Bayer CropScience’s Lee Rivenbark says trying to make sure growers have the right variety and the right trait in different parts of the country is challenging....More
Jan. 11, 2013

video

Cotton farmers find lack of rain no worry for pre-emergence herbicides

The University of Georgia’s Stanley Culpepper says Georgia growers can employ pre-emergence herbicides even if it’s dry. Culpepper also discussed the important role cover crops are beginning to play in battling herbicide resistance as the Beltwide Cotton Conferences got under way in San Antonio....More
Jan. 11, 2013

video

Survey sparks discussion on efficacy of cotton insecticides

For years, cotton entomologists held regular, informal discussions about what was working and what was not when it came to controlling cotton insects. A few years ago, Mississippi State University’s Jeff Gore began conducting an electronic survey of university entomologists from the Carolinas to California....More