Greetings,
We hope you and your family had a great summer! As harvest season has arrived for some and is nearing for others, 100% Cotton News is available to help you stay informed on what is happening in the industry. Below, you will find many important updates you don't want to miss. Please contact us if we can be of your service and forward this newsletter to anyone you think may benefit from reading it. Have a safe and bountiful harvest!
Georgia Cotton Commission
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USDA Announces $3 Billion Investment in Agriculture, Animal Health, and Nutrition; Unveils New Climate Partnership Initiative, Requests Public Input |
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On September 29th, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a comprehensive set of investments to address challenges facing America’s agricultural producers. These include assistance to address challenges and costs associated with drought, animal health, market disruptions for agricultural commodities, and school food supply chain issues. Secretary Vilsack also outlined and requested public comments on a new climate partnership initiative designed to create new revenue streams for producers via market opportunities for commodities produced using climate-smart practices.
“American agriculture currently faces unprecedented challenges on multiple fronts,” said Vilsack. “The coronavirus pandemic has impacted every stage of our food supply chain, from commodity production through processing and delivery. Farmers, ranchers and forest landowners increasingly experience the impacts of climate change as severe storms, floods, drought and wildfire events damage their operations and impact their livelihoods. We know these challenges will continue into 2022, and others may emerge. Through this comprehensive set of investments, USDA will take action to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever, assist producers grappling with drought and market disruptions, and help school nutrition professionals obtain nutritious food for students. Tackling these challenges head-on better positions USDA to respond in the future as new challenges emerge.”
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2020 & 2021 Disasters Included in Continuing Resolution |
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On September 30th, Congress passed a continuing resolution keeping government agencies funded at current FY2021 levels through December 3. As part of that package, Congress included $10 billion in agricultural disaster assistance extending WHIP+ to cover eligible crop losses and crops prevented from planting in the 2020 and 2021 crop year.
Language was included that directs USDA to calculate eligible WHIP+ payments by deducting net crop insurance indemnities (giving grower’s credit for crop insurance premium payments) instead of gross indemnities. Funding is also provided for FSA to streamline the WHIP+ application process and ease the burden on FSA County Office employees.
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Georgia Cotton Commission Submits Comments on WOTUS |
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On August 27, the Georgia Cotton Commission submitted comments on the Biden Administration’s proposed reinstatement of the Waters of the United State (WOTUS) rule. When originally introduced in 2015, the WOTUS brought confusion by its inconsistent definition and contradiction to rules from state regulators in Georgia and across the country. The Navigable Protection Waters Rule (NWPR), which has since been struck down by an Arizona District Court, brought clarity and understanding to a regulation that has caused issues for years. The Georgia Cotton Commission expressed concerns with the potential reinstatement of WOTUS, as it will bring back inconsistency and confusion. The Commission is hopeful that the administration will give farmers the opportunity to make the most sustainable decisions for their unique operations. |
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The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is presenting four more, live enrollment webinars focusing on how the program helps U.S. growers meet the changing demands from their end customer while also better documenting and verifying the sustainability practices and advances already incorporated into their farms.
Launched in 2020, the Trust Protocol is a farm level, science-based program that sets a new standard for more sustainably grown cotton. It brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to sustainable cotton production and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics– land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency. In the first year, over 300 U.S. cotton growers enrolled in the program and secured 1.5 million bales of cotton into the system. The Trust Protocol also welcomed more than 450 brand, retailer, mill and manufacturer members.
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Upcoming Events & Deadlines
- October 19-21 - Sunbelt Ag Expo, Moultrie
- January 4-6, 2022 - Beltwide Cotton Conferences, San Antonio, TX
- January 12-15, 2022 Southern Cotton Growers Annual Meeting, Hilton Head Island, SC
- January 26, 2022 - Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting, Tifton
- February 11-13, 2022 - National Cotton Council of America Annual Meeting, Houston, TX
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Kemerait & Virk: Late-Season Disease and Nematode Management Considerations for Cotton Growers |
With the arrival of October, cotton growers in Georgia have long anticipated the start of harvest and preparation for the final days of the season. Understandably, much of the focus now is on defoliation and in getting the cotton out of the field and to the gin. If the crop is within four weeks of defoliation, there is little need to further protect against foliar diseases; if a crop is more than a month off from defoliation, then some attention should be given to areolate mildew which may (or may not) be present. |
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- Filmed, edited, and produced "Cotton Connections" videos
- Participated in UGA CAES Crop & Soil Science Department Head interview process
- Attended the Research Review Day in Tifton
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- Attended Southern Cotton Growers Mid-Year Board Meeting
- Sponsored and attended Georgia Press Association Convention
- Wrote support letters for UGA researchers and specialists
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- Attended summer meeting of the American Cotton Producers
- Filmed, edited, and produced "Cotton Connections" videos
- Attended UGA Midville Field Day
- Attended Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Conference
- Sponsored Georgia 4-H Gala
- Attended Quail Forever award event
- Met with Georgia Public Broadcasting Education staff
- Wrote comment letter on proposed Clean Water Act rule
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- Met with Staplcotn grower leadership
- Signed on to Ag Tax Coalition Letter
- Participated in U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol enrollment seminar
- Participated in UGA CAES Crop & Soil Science Department Head Search Committee meeting
- Attended National Cotton Council of America Mid-Year Board Meeting
- Attended UGA Plains Field Day
- Attended Field to Closet Initiative hospital scrub event
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- Filmed, edited, and produced "Cotton Connections" videos
- Attended Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association Georgia State Unit Meeting
- Attended UGA Cotton & Peanut Field Day
- Met with potential media partners
- Exhibited at Habersham County Farm Day
- Attended Cotton Incorporated tour
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- Met with U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Ranking Member
- Met with UGA CAES Agricultural, Leadership, Education & Communication leadership
- Participated in The Cotton Board's "Cotton & Coffee"
- Attended UGA Northeast Georgia Cotton Field Day
- Attended the GEAFCS Annual Conference
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Georgia Cotton Commission
Board of Directors
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Bart Davis
Chairman
Colquitt County
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Matt Coley
Vice-Chairman
Dooly County
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Lee Cromley
Bulloch County
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Steven Meeks
Wayne County
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Chris Hopkins
Toombs County
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Gary Black
Commissioner
Georgia Department of Agriculture
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Tom McCall
President
Georgia Farm Bureau
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Commissioner's Designee
Eddie Green
Dooly County
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Board Advisor
David Holton
Mitchell County
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Taylor Sills
Executive Director
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Caroline Snider
Education & Outreach Specialist
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Kelly Rodgers
Operations Coordinator
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