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TEXAS HONORS AG LEADERS
Abby and Slayton Hoelscher Farmers & Ranchers competition recognizes the accomplishments of some of the state’s top agricultural leaders between the ages of 18 and 35. The YF&R con-
The 2020 Outstanding YF&R finalists are Slayton and Abby Hoelscher of Wall, Alton and Adrienne Synatschk of Olton, and Matt and Jessica Hanslik of Halletsville. Two of the couples — the Hoelschers and the Synatschks — grow cotton.
“These young men and women work hard. They serve Texas Farm Bureau, their communities and Texas agriculture with strong dedication,” says TFB President Russell Boening. “We’re honored to recognize their passion and drive to provide food, fiber and fuel to families across the world.”
Finalists are chosen from each of TFB’s 13 districts. A panel of volunteer judges visited the finalists on their farms.
Cotton Couples
Slayton and Abby Hoelscher grow cotton, corn, grain sorghum, peanuts and hay in Tom Green and Haskell counties. Slayton is a first-generation farmer whose passion for agriculture began with a small garden and grew to a thriving farming operation.
The couple is implementing minimal and no-till practices on their farms to enhance microbial activity and reduce soil erosion. Abby also works at Mueller Metals and Spring Creek Products in San Angelo.
The Hoelschers serve as the District 6 representatives on TFB’s YF&R Advisory Committee. Slayton also serves on the Tom Green County Farm Bureau board of directors, and he is the county YF&R chair. They are also both active in state YF&R Adrienne and
Cotton Couples Among Finalists For TFB Outstanding YF&R Award
Each year, Texas Farm Bureau’s Outstanding Young test rewards the ambition, fortitude and dedication displayed by these individuals.
Alton Synatschk events and county activities.
Alton and Adrienne Synatschk grow cotton, corn, grain sorghum and wheat. They raise stocker cattle, maintain a cowcalf herd and operate several custom businesses — spraying, swathing and trucking. In addition, Alton farms in a separate partnership with his two brothers. Adrienne also works at the Olton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. The couple has four children.
The young couple is active in TFB and Lamb County Farm Bureau. Alton servers as the president of Lamb County Farm Bureau and is a past participant of TFB’s AgLead program, a two-year leadership development program that teaches members about agriculture and leadership from a new perspective. Adrienne is in the current class of AgLead.
Matt and Jessica Hanslik have a crossbred cattle operation and raise purebred Charolais cattle in Lavaca County. They also grow corn and hay.
YF&R Prizes
The winner of this year’s TFB Outstanding YF&R contest will take home the title to a ¾-ton diesel pickup courtesy of Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Cos.; and a $5,000 cash award, courtesy of Farm Credit.
The two runners-up will receive a $500 cash award courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co.
The state winner will represent Texas in the national Achievement Award competition hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation in January 2021.
The national winners and runners-up also will be rewarded for their achievements.
BY CHARLIE CAHOON JR. NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
As most have heard, the recently approved federal labels for dicamba-containing products labeled for over-the-top use on dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybeans still require annual training.
Therefore, North Carolina State University Extension, in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, will continue to provide instruction to the state’s famers, applicators and retailers via the Auxin Herbicides Best Management Practices training. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 sessions will look differently than in the past.
Here are the available options: • Live Zoom: Drs. Charlie Cahoon and Wesley Everman will offer 12 live Zoom training options. The sessions will be held weekly from mid-January through late March. All live Zoom events will start at 10 a.m. CST. Attendees will use the same Zoom link and passcode for each individual live Zoom meeting.
For Zoom link and passcode, please contact your county agricultural Extension agent.
Live Zoom Training Sessions Date Time
Jan. 12 10 a.m. Jan. 21 10 a.m. Jan. 29 10 a.m. Feb. 4 10 a.m. Feb. 8 10 a.m. Feb. 18 10 a.m. Feb. 24 10 a.m. March 2 10 a.m. March 11 10 a.m. March 15 10 a.m. March 24 10 a.m. March 29 10 a.m.
Day of week
Tuesday Thursday Friday Thursday Monday Thursday Wednesday Tuesday Thursday Monday Wednesday Monday
• Pre-recorded video: Drs. Charlie Cahoon and Wesley Everman will provide county agricultural agents with a prerecorded video of the 2021 Auxin Herbicides-Best Management Training.
Agents can incorporate this video into winter meetings (live or virtual). If used in conjunction with a virtual meeting, the NCDA&CS requirements for active participation must be followed.
If incorporated into a face-to-face meeting, agents will capture attendance normally with hard-copy rosters or scanning pesticide license upon entry.
• Slide set: Drs. Charlie Cahoon and Wesley Everman will provide county agricultural agents with the 2021 Auxin Herbicides-Best Management Training slide set. Like the prerecorded video, agents can deliver the slide set at regularly scheduled winter meetings (live or virtual).
If used in conjunction with a virtual meeting, the NCDA&CS requirements must be followed for this option as well. If incorporated into a face-to-face meeting, agents will capture attendance normally with hard-copy rosters or scanning pesticide license upon entry.
Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Dr. Wesley Everman — Extension weed specialist and associate professor, Crop & Soil Sciences NCSU Extension — contributed to this article. For more information, contact Dr. Charlie Cahoon at charlie_cahoon@ncsu.edu.
Attendee Requirements For Live Zoom Training
1. Registration is required before attendee can join the live Zoom training. This can be completed just before the Zoom session. 2. Attendee must include name, email address, phone number, county and NCDA&CS certification/license number at registration. 3. To receive credit for a virtual training, NCDA&CS requires the following of all attendees: • Identity verification at the beginning of the course and after any breaks. • Active participation by each attendee throughout course to ensure attendee is present. Polling questions will be used for live Zoom meetings. • Attendance must be taken at the end of the course. • No partial credit is given for those who arrive late or leave early.
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Take Proactive Stance In Challenging Environment
2020 Is ‘One For The Books’
As I sit down to write this article and reflect on the year, I struggle to come up with the words to summarize 2020. The phrases I typically use to describe it may not be appropriate here. But I think it should suffice to say 2020 has been tough.
Between a trade war and labor issues in China, the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on cotton demand, and unprecedented weather across the Belt, 2020 has tested every sector of the cotton industry.
Cotton producers know about tough years. Even when prices are low and input costs are high, everyone still depends on farmers to feed and clothe the world.
Industry Comes Together
However, I think most cotton producers must also be optimists by nature. How else could they continue to put their livelihood on the line year after year?
So I’ve found myself searching for the bright spots in this unimaginable year, and I keep coming back to the people and organizations that form the backbone of the U.S. cotton industry. We are a tough lot, and historically our industry doesn’t withdraw during difficult times.
In fact, the Cotton Research and Promotion Program was designed to help overcome adversity by a group of cotton producers who faced declining market share, low prices and new competition from man-made synthetic fibers. But instead of backing down, they rallied together to ensure a future for cotton.
Cotton Incorporated’s Efforts
2020 marked the 50th anniversary of Cotton Incorporated — the research and marketing company founded by U.S. cotton producers and importers. The cotton industry has changed significantly over the past five decades, including the way the crop is produced and harvested to the fiber’s ability to perform in a range of apparel and home textiles.
BY STACEY GORMAN WARREN, ARKANSAS
For 50 years, Cotton Incorporated has existed to lighten cotton producers’ burden. Through ongoing research, cottonseed marketing and consumer promotion, Cotton Incorporated helps producers grow the crop more profitably and creates a market demand for the fiber.
During its 50th year, Cotton Incorporated has been a leader in rebuilding and retooling the downstream supply chain for cotton products. This revitalization is critical to regain consumer demand and strengthen producer prices.
Cotton Incorporated has quickly adjusted and adapted plans in 2020 to address the immediate needs of the cotton growers and importers it serves.
Addressing The Pandemic
To better understand the pandemic’s effects on consumer habits and attitudes, the Corporate Strategy and Insights department conducted multiple surveys on the impact of COVID-19 on consumers’ shopping habits. The Global Supply Chain Marketing team is leveraging that information and sharing it with companies, organizations and associations in the world supply chain to help build cotton demand.
The Nonwovens Department worked with the retail-brand community to find sourcing solutions to the serious personal protective equipment shortage that emerged early this year.
U.S. cotton farmers are an integral part of our industry’s strong foundation.
The Consumer Marketing team quickly launched a new advertising campaign, sharing a simple message: stay home, stay safe and stay comfortable in cotton.
The videos illustrate how the pandemic has changed the way we live our lives. They also recognize the farmers, essential workers and health care professionals working on the front lines.
The Ag Research team traveled the country, often living in travel trailers to stay safe from COVID-19. They visited research plots, checked in with cooperator researchers and visited farmers in every cotton-growing state.
Embracing What’s Essential
2020 will be a year we all remember for quite some time. We were forced to slow down, look around and identify things that were truly essential in our lives.
The tireless, often underappreciated, hard work of America’s cotton producers is essential. Having access to the fruits of their labor and the ability to stay comfortable in cotton have also felt essential to me.
I hope all the cotton producers out there have confidence that the work being done by the Cotton Research and Promotion Program on their behalf can be included in the “essential” category, too.
Gorman is The Cotton Board’s director of communications. Contact her at sgorman@ cottonboard.org.
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