8 minute read
SCG ELECTS PRESIDENT
BY BRAD ROBB
South Carolina cotton producer Rusty Darby understands what negative impacts the U.S. trade war with China and the global pandemic continue to have on world cotton demand. Therefore, he assumed his role as the new president of Southern Cotton Growers Inc. with a proactive mindset and a long-term vision.
Darby’s tenure on national and regional cotton organization boards has honed his perspectives on issues facing U.S. cotton producers.
“Our domestic cotton industry is encountering adversity like we have not seen since the boll weevil,” he says. “Cotton sales to our largest customer, China, were starting to trend up, but this pandemic has not only shuttered consumers, it has stalled supply chains. Now is the time to plan strategically for the future.”
Darby told David Ruppenicker, CEO of the Dawsonville, Georgia-based cotton association, he wants to strengthen the organization’s service to its members and its efforts to influence cotton policy on their behalf.
At the January annual meeting, Darby and Ruppenicker received board approval to contract with an outside agency to create an organizational evaluation survey. Its purpose is to gather input from member constituents across Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
“Those farmers pay assessments to this organization,” Darby says. “We want them to know how we are investing those funds to influence domestic cotton policy on their behalf and increase world cotton demand through our support of Cotton Council International. This survey will let them share opinions or concerns and broaden SCG communication channels moving forward.”
Ruppenicker says, “As the overseas promotion arm of the National Cotton Council, CCI’s work is essential to the development of international demand for U.S. cotton. Their marketing programs continue paying dividends to our industry.”
One of SCG’s messages touts U.S. cotton’s sustainability efforts.
U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
Darby is South Carolina’s member on The Cotton Board, composed of cotton producers and cotton importers.
“Importers work for brands and retailers like Wrangler, American Eagle, Target and Walmart that import cotton apparel and products into the United States,” he says. “Consumers today want products that are sustainable, traceable and produced responsibly. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, created through the National Cotton Council, is a volunteer program allowing U.S. producers to highlight their farm’s sustainability achievements and have them shared with cotton buyers and customers across the world.
“Grower involvement isn’t just necessary, it’s critical as companies and their shareholders continue basing their
Rusty Darby, who farms near Chester, South Carolina, has his cotton planter ready to roll. Dot, his trusty blue heeler, is never far from his side.
cotton buying decisions on corporate environmental and social responsibility goals and requirements. All farms are different, but all farmers need to highlight their own track record of sustainability success by enrolling in the program at www.trustuscotton.org.”
A board of governance that represents all industry segments has established sustainability goals. These include measured increases in production and irrigation efficiencies, and reductions in greenhouse gases, carbon, soil loss and energy use collectively across all U.S. cotton farming operations by 2025. Darby understands some farmers may be hesitant to share specific details of their operations and production practices.
“They have to move past those concerns and enroll in the program to continue our strength of a unified industry voice that has been a linchpin to our success for so long,” he says. “The U.S. producer segment must be responsive to this program or risk being left behind.”
Positive Outlook For Cotton’s Future
April 25 was Darby’s target date to plant cotton if soil temperatures were warm enough. As much as it hurts, he is decreasing his cotton acres this year and will double crop an alternative crop after the wheat harvest.
“I have a family will dating back to 1820 verifying cotton was produced on this farm,” he says. “I look forward to working with the SCG board and staff to capitalize on future opportunities for cotton as we move past these times of uncertainty in health and world cotton trade.”
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U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Selects Third-Party Verification Partner
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has selected Control Union Certifications North America to implement an independent, third-party verification program for the Trust Protocol system. Data about Trust Protocol cotton is proven via Field to Market, measured via the Field Calculator and now will be verified by CUC.
Control Union Certifications has certified more than 150 programs worldwide, including working as a key partner in the early development and piloting phases of Field to Market’s Impact Claim Verification Protocol. CUC has also worked with the Better Cotton Initiative on its third-party verification programs in multiple countries.
U.S. cotton producers will complete a farming practices self-assessment and share their field data through Field to Market’s Fieldprint Platform. The CUC will verify the Trust Protocol annual data that will highlight key sustainability metrics, such as land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency.
“Control Union’s agriculture standards, experience and impeccable reputation will provide brands, retailers and consumers assurance that the cotton fiber sourced through the Trust Protocol is continually improving,” says Ken Burton, executive director of the Trust Protocol.
The Trust Protocol was recently added to Textile Exchange’s list of preferred fibers and materials. For more information, please visit https:// TrustUsCotton.org.
Got Hog Damage? There’s An App For That
According to a Mississippi State University research study, feral pigs cause $66 million in property damage in the Magnolia State each year. With the wild hog population increasing and damage estimates constantly changing, it’s now easier to report and assess impacts with a newly designed MSU app.
The “Feral Pig Damage” app allows users to report the location of wild hog sightings and the damage they cause in real time. Users can pinpoint or draw a polygon on a specif
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ic location, upload photos, estimate economic loss and describe multiple attributes about the type of damage. These include crop type, whether it’s an agricultural, hardwood or pine area, as well as growth stage.
St. John Family Endowed Professor of Wildlife Management Bronson Strickland says he hopes the app helps provide a more complete picture of the intensity and location of damage to help refine economic estimates.
“The end result is to know where wild hog densities are greatest so that we can better manage those populations,” Strickland says.
The app is available for download in the Apple Store. Visit https://apple. co/3cJvkNJ. Android download is available at https://bit.ly/2XdiqAS.
To learn more, visit wildpiginfo. msstate.edu.
Vidalia Mills Helps Produce Healthcare Masks & Gowns
BASF’s e3 sustainable cotton farmers have a new story: Providing materials for workers on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.
Vidalia Mills is a North American maker of yarns and denim fabrics and e3 sustainable cotton partner. The facility has joined forces with Keep It Here, a Los Angeles-based manufacturer of T-shirts, jeans and other clothing, to produce and distribute surgical masks, gowns and face masks made from e3 sustainable cotton.
“Our mission for cotton sustainability is centered around connecting the entire farmer-to-retailer channel,” says Jennifer Crumpler, director, BASF e3 sustainable cotton program.
“We’re proud of our e3 sustainable cotton farmers and partners for taking that connection one step further by transforming sustainable cotton into crucial medical supplies needed during this unprecedented time.”
For more information, visit https:// bit.ly/36c13EW.
40 th ANNIVERSARY
CCOY
The Cotton Consultant of the Year (CCOY) Award celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The award recognizes a consultant who has made great contributions to the cotton industry through outstanding customer relations, leadership and innovation. It is given to the consultant who not only meets these requirements but also exceeds them.
Syngenta and Cotton Farming magazine — CCOY sponsors — are soliciting your help in selecting the 2020 recipient, who will be named at a special celebration Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.
The winning consultant and the person who nominates the winner receive a two-night hotel stay and airfare to Memphis. The 2020 CCOY recipient also will be featured in a four-page salute in the February 2021 issue of Cotton Farming.
Submit nominations by July 31, 2020.
Mail: Carroll Smith 7201 Eastern Ave. Germantown, TN 38138 Scan/Email: csmith@onegrower.com
You can print out an electronic version of the form located on the Cotton Farming Web site at www.cottonfarming.com.
Nominate online: cottonfarming.com/ccoy
Cotton Consultant of the Year 2020
NOMINATION FORM
If you would like to nominate a consultant deserving of this outstanding recognition, please take a moment to fill out the following form.
Please use a separate page for biographical/professional information. Additional recommendations via letters or emails from other farmers, consultants and industry members are also encouraged to provide support for the nominee.
Consultant’s Name: Company Name: Mailing Address: City: Phone: State: Email: Zip:
In your own words, please tell us why you are nominating the consultant above for the “Cotton Consultant of the Year” Award. Additional pages may be attached, emailed or attached to the online nomination form.
Background:
Biographical/Industry Involvement Background. This information as well as support letters may be attached to this form, emailed or attached to the online nomination form.
Your Name: Mailing Address: City: Phone: State: Email: Zip:
