21 minute read
Research & Promotion
CottonBoard.Org Website — Same Name, New Look And Feel
The Cotton Board’s public-facing website, CottonBoard.Org was recently updated and refreshed. A new look and feel, along with added features, make this website an even better resource for the cotton-growing community.
Whether a cotton producer, importer or member of the general public, the CottonBoard.Org website offers users access to resources and information related to the Cotton Research and Promotion Program.
Lexie Jones, The Cotton Board’s Director of Information Technology, and I started the redesign project in early 2022, and the updated website went live in September. “The CottonBoard.org site was last updated in 2013, so the refresh of the site was needed for both aesthetic improvements and reasons of functionality,” said Jones.
Attractive, User-Friendly Website
The new site leads with beautiful cotton imagery, in a sleek and modern design. The new design is also ADA compliant, meeting the most recent standards to accommodate visually impaired users. Improved navigation makes it easier than ever for users to find the information they need.
When viewing the site on a desktop or laptop computer, there is a scrolling header that moves along with the page, making navigation seamless. The site is also mobile-responsive, which means it will adapt to the screen of whatever device it is being viewed on, be it a mobile phone or tablet.
The homepage has a resource center that directs users directly to sections of the site they may find most useful. The homepage also has a stream of The Cotton Board’s social media content and allows users to share information directly from the site — all with the click of a button.
Up-To-Date Sections
New pages and sections of the site provide portals to information and useful resources. Cotton & Coffee: The new site has a page dedicated to The Cotton Board’s Cotton & Coffee series. Here, users can browse upcoming Cotton & Coffee topics, register to attend a future session or view the recordings of past episodes. Stakeholder Transparency: Information in the Stakeholder Transparency section of CottonBoard.Org includes links to The Cotton Board and Cotton Incorporated’s Annual Reports, Program governing documents, budget breakdowns, audited financial information and board rosters. Our Leadership: Visitors who are curious about The Cotton Board’s membership can go to the “Our Leadership” page and see a current listing of all Cotton Board Members, Alternates and Advisors. Taking this a step further, the new design allows membership to be filtered by region, industry segment or membership type.
“Ultimately, we redesigned the site to ensure that people who were looking for information about The Cotton Board or the Cotton Research and Promotion Program had a positive experience and found the site useful, robust and easy to navigate,” said Jones.
To check out the new website, please visit CottonBoard.Org.
BY STACEY GORMAN
WARREN, ARKANSAS
Stacey Gorman is The Cotton Board’s director of communications and may be reached at sgorman@cottonboard.org.
The P.I.E. Tour
A Slice Of Perspective To Be Gained
Upon its inception in 1989, P.I.E. — otherwise known as the Producer Information Exchange — has been instrumental in creating avenues for producers to experience regions different from their own.
The P.I.E. tour is a special education project of the Cotton Foundation, sponsored by BASF and managed by the National Cotton Council.
In this program, a grower from Texas could be immersed in the same growing conditions as a grower from North Carolina. In the 2022 Southeast P.I.E. tour, that is exactly what happened — and vice versa with the 2022 Southwest P.I.E. tour.
Bryan Perry, US Head of Seeds & Traits at BASF, spoke on the importance of BASF’s partnership with the tours.
“I was able to share with them [producers] about the company and its direction, but then I was able to turn it back to them and get their feedback,” he said.
“BASF reinvests 11% of every dollar into research and development for ag, and I think if you’re a producer, you want to know what people are spending that money on. Being able to see firsthand what’s happening with that investment can be really beneficial.”
Southeast P.I.E. tour members from the Southwest region were made up of producers from California to Texas. They saw multiple farms throughout North Carolina, BASF’s headquarters outside of Raleigh and other research facilities along the way.
Landon Mires, a producer out of O’Donnell, Texas, originally heard about the program from his father and then suggested he would do the program again at the drop of a hat. He said it was interesting to see what other regions grow alongside their cotton, such as the vegetables and tobacco in North Carolina.
On the other side, Southwest P.I.E. tour members consisted of producers from Virginia to Mississippi. They toured BASF’s Seed Innovations Center in Lubbock, Texas, and they wrapped up their time of learning and engaging in the Lower Rio Grande Valley with other facilities and farms.
Bo Leatherman, a Mississippi farm manager for Brad Cobb Farms in Tunica County who participated in this year’s Southeast P.I.E. tour, had one piece of advice when it came to anyone who may be interested in participating in the program: “Go.”
He said it was a unique opportunity to understand what other areas are doing as far as techniques, to see what might work on his own farm and to know how fortunate they are when it comes to resources other regions may lack — such as water.
“We try to mix it up,” said John Gibson, Vice President of Member Services at National Cotton Council. “We want to expose them [the producers] to a variety of experiences so they can take what they learn back with them to the farm.”
More than 1,200 U.S. cotton producers have participated in the program since its 1989 launch. The program exchanges much more than just simple information — it also exchanges regions and new perspectives, making it invaluable to anyone who joins.
Producers interested in getting involved with the P.I.E. tours should contact their local National Cotton Council Member Services representative or local cotton producer association representative.
BY CASSIDY NEMEC
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Dustin Black, a BASF research development specialist, updates Southwest and West P.I.E. producer participants on the company’s trait development trials at its research facility in Pikeville, North Carolina.
Producers from the Southeast and Mid-South saw cotton and other agricultural operations in Texas’ High Plains and Lower Rio Grande Valley regions.
Continued from page 14
ARIZONA Randy Norton
As we enter the 2022 harvest season, I am optimistic about yield potential of this year’s crop. Far southwest Arizona has already harvested some of their crop, and early indications are for yields slightly above average. Our first UArizona cotton variety trial ranged from just under three bales per acre to right at four bales per acre. The result from this early harvested trial continues to show the importance of proper variety selection. With a difference of slightly over 500 pounds of lint per acre, proper variety selection is demonstrated again to be crucial to optimum return.
Many growers will plant several different varieties on their farm each year to spread their risk. Keeping detailed records of variety performance on your own farm will provide valuable information for the upcoming year. Harvest time is a busy time of year, but taking the time to accurately track variety performance will pay dividends in the end.
As we have surveyed farms across the state this fall, we continue to see problematic fields with populations of palmer amaranth that have escaped glyphosate applications and are likely resistant. Allowing these plants to produce seed and then running a harvester through the field will continue to spread the problem to additional areas. Now is the time to take note of problem areas and, if possible, remove existing pigweed plants from the field before going to seed and running a harvester through them. Adjusting production practices for the 2023 season is critical to prevent the further spread of these glyphosate resistant pigweed. Incorporating additional herbicide options besides glyphosate is necessary to control these populations.
More detailed information regarding this topic and others related to late-season crop management can be found at the UArizona Extension website extension.arizona.edu/crops-soils. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu
TEXAS Ben McKnight
As I write this Sept. 8, cotton harvesting activity is winding down in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Recent rainfall has slowed things down a bit, but more than 90% of the acreage in this region has currently been harvested. Upon completion of harvesting, growers have been diligent with stalk destruction practices to render any remaining cotton plant material non-hostable to the boll weevil. Cotton stalk destruction efforts of growers in South Texas, along with the efforts of the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, are the Cotton Belt’s first line of defense against the proliferation of these pests.
Harvesting activity in the Coastal Bend has wrapped up for the year, and stalk destruction efforts are running smoothly ahead of the Sept. 15 stalk destruction deadline for this region. Yield reports in the Coastal Bend have been below average compared to previous years, and growers are hoping to get some much-needed rainfall heading into the 2023 growing season. The Upper Gulf Coast is also winding down the 2022 harvest and should be completed by the time you read this in October.
Recent rainfall in the Blackland Prairie has slowed progress with getting the bulk of the region’s cotton crop out of the field. Some fields that were defoliated prior to the rainfall will most likely need an additional harvest-aid application prior to harvesting as regrowth following the initial application has been problematic in some instances. bmcknight@tamu.edu
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION
1. Publication Title: Cotton Farming 2. Publication Number: 0746-8385 3. Filing Date: October 2022 4. Issue Frequency: Jan - Dec 5. Number of Issues: 12x/year 6. Annual Subscription Price: Free to qualified subscribers 7&8. Mailing Address of Known Office/Headquarters: 875 W. Poplar Ave., Ste. 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017 Contact Person: David Boyd (901-626-1730) 9. Publisher: Lia Guthrie, 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470 Editor: Carroll Smith, 875 W. Poplar Ave., Ste. 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017 10. Owners: Cornelia Guthrie, 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470; Dr. David Scott Guthrie,Sr., 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470; Morris Ike Lamensdorf, 17 S. Third St., Rolling Fork, MS 39159; Mary Jane Lamensdorf, 17 S. Third St., Rolling Fork, MS 39159
11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees and Other Security Holders Owning/Holding 1% or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages or
Other Securities: None 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: September 2022 15.a. Total Number of Copies (net press run): (Average No. Copies each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 21,957) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 22,161) 15.b.(1) Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 11,886) (No. Copies of Single Issue Nearest to Filing Date – 12,186) 15.c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 11,886) (No. Copies of Single Issue Nearest to Filing Date – 12,186) 15.d.(1) Outside County Nonrequested Copies: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 9,770) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 9,461) 15.d.(4) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 29) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date - 0) 15.e. Total Nonrequested Distribution: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 9,799) (No Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 9,461) 15.f. Total Distribution: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 21,685) (No Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 21,647) 15.g. Copies Not Distributed: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 272) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date - 514) 15.h. Total: (Average No. copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 21,957) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 22,161) 15.i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 54.81%) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 56.29%) 18. I certify that all information furnished above is true and complete. Lia Guthrie, Publisher
COTTON Ginners Marketplace COTTON
COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY. IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.
Electricity Rates Likely To Increase For 2022 Take A Hard Look At Insurance Costs And Safety Culture At The Gin
In Texas, we have spent a good bit of time and energy trying to untangle the mess that was caused by Winter Storm Uri. We have seen legislation passed, new rules written and now various actions by our Public Utility Commission. If you are reading this from outside of Texas, hang on for just a little bit, and I’ll get to why I think this issue may have an impact across the Cotton Belt. If you followed this in the news, there was a lot of talk about ERCOT, the power grid in Texas, and the huge power outages we faced during the storm. Parts of ERCOT were out for a week or more. One common comment heard was that this wouldn’t have happened if ERCOT were part of the “National Power Grid.” This is a bit of a misstatement because there actually are nine grid systems in the United States. ERCOT just happens to be the only one that does not cross a state line, and so is Distractions have become “routine” in our daily lives. Our phones go o , we get text messages and we’re bombarded by the never-ending news cycle. Everything seems to be trying to get our attention, and it’s easy to lose sight of what’s important. Things can sneak up on you, and those are the ones that will jump up and bite you. In the last year or so, we’ve seen huge increases in our costs. As I write this, we’re getting news of the highest inflation in more than a generation… maybe two. While I’m personally seeing some of the things that increased so much ease down a bit, it’s not common for costs that have gone up this much, this fast, to come down or come down very much. We will likely have to learn to live with some of them. not regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. There are several areas of Texas that are not in ERCOT, and this is where the e ect from the storm on these areas may be of interest to folks across the Belt. The Cost Of Insurance One of the costs that snuck up on many gins in the past year or so is the cost of insurance. Normally, this is a once-a-year expense we get hit with. Gas And Electricity Spot Prices During Winter Storm Uri, there was a large disruption in The past renewal cycle or two have been more than a bit of sticker shock for many in the ginning industry. Your associations have been aware of this and have brought it to the attention of our memberships. But I think many of us got distracted by the other things going on and have now been hit with the reality that it’s not getting better.
This is a simplified explanation, but insurance companies are going to do what they need to in order to stay in business. They must make money like we do. The companies take our premium and invest it. They pay claims with it, and they expect to have some left over. If losses are low and return on investment is good, you have happy insurance companies. We get stable premiums and competition.
If they have poor investment returns and higher-than-expected cost of claims (read inflation), you have unhappy insurance companies. They may decide to pull out of the market and/or significantly increase rates. This is where we are today.
Your ginners associations and the National Cotton Ginners’ Association have been concerned about this for some time. We need healthy insurers and competition, but we really can only help one side of the insurance problem…losses. NCGA has put together a list of questions to ask yourself, so you can evaluate
the natural gas supply system, which is one of the things that caused natural gas to jump substantially during the turbulence. As power plants were shut down by the storm, some of the motors that pressurized the natural gas lines lost power.
At the same time, the remaining natural gas-fired power plants were ramped up to handle the additional load. Most had to buy more gas on the spot market to keep running. The spot price for electricity went through the roof as well, hitting $4/ kWh outside of ERCOT and $9/kWh inside ERCOT. The utilities that had to buy spot electricity during this time frame incurred substantial losses.
What’s Happening In Texas
In Texas, we are just now seeing the results of this increase in gas and electricity prices. Electric utilities have assessed their losses and are now passing these costs on to their customers. Additional charges in the range of $0.01 - $0.03/kWh are being assessed to make up for losses during the storm. This amount is highly variable, based on what mix of generation the power company was using and whether they had adequate fuel contracted.
The City of Austin Utility, for example, did not lose any money
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during the storm and actually made money. This was mainly because so much of the Austin system was down, and they were able to sell the additional electricity they could not get into the city to other utilities in ERCOT at a hefty profit.
On the other hand, one of our power plants outside of ERCOT went down, and the utilities that relied on this power were forced into the spot market. These companies now have a large deficit they are having to make up.
Natural Gas Plants And Electric Utilities
The costs we are seeing to make up for losses during the storm are only one side of the equation. Adding to this is the fact that gas prices are up today. Spot prices for natural gas this August averaged $8.81/MMBtu on the Henry Hub. Last August, this same average was $4.07/MMBtu.
While this di erence will only a ect natural gas power plants, our electric utilities across the country are relying more on natural gas plants, as the coal-fired plants are being phased out.
Stated in cost per kWh, we see fuel typically at about $0.02. Doubling of the natural gas price could mean an additional $0.02/kWh. Fortunately, most of the natural gas is not purchased on the spot market. But you can see the potential problem if the price of natural gas continues to stay at these levels.
Renewable Sources Of Generation
Our utilities are facing increasing pressure to use renewable sources of generation, especially wind and solar. The problem with wind and solar is they only work with the correct weather. Utilities must continually balance generation against the load on the system.
The main method most utilities use to balance the load is through natural gas-fired power plants. With the renewables on the system, the natural gas plants must balance both the changing load and the changing amount of generation provided by the renewables. If you have a major cold snap with snow and freezing rain, you will likely lose most of your renewable energy generation, forcing the natural gas plants to ramp up considerably.
Ginning Cost Survey Participation Is Critical
All these variables combine to put significant upward pressure on electricity prices. This season, it is important that you communicate with your electricity provider to be sure you know what they will be charging. If you have not participated in the past, this year would be an excellent time to begin taking part in the ginning cost survey coordinated by the National Cotton Ginners Association.
The ginners associations use these survey results to track energy prices across the United States. It is important that we have good participation across the country to have an accurate understanding of how prices are changing in di erent regions.
The more participation we get for the survey, the better the data quality will be. This data is a key part of our e orts to help the industry operate in the most e icient manner possible.
J. Kelley Green, TCGA executive vice president, contributed this article. Contact him at kelley@tcga.org.
CCGGA Testifies At Air District Meeting
The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association reports that in early September the association’s Director of Technical Services, Chris McGlothin, attended and testified at the Air District’s Governing Board Meeting following a presentation by sta on receiving funding for heavy-duty trucks. With more than $12 million in funding, the District is encouraging interested parties to apply. Unfortunately, the funding is tied directly to e orts to electrify the goods movement industry and only allocates money towards zero and near-zero trucks.
McGlothin testified that the agricultural industry has made significant investments in compliant trucks following ARB’s Truck and Bus Regulation. Unfortunately, many subhaulers who were vital to the industry have had to cease operation due to the regulatory requirements associated with heavy-duty trucks.
Along with that point, those businesses that invested in updating fleets to Engine Model Year 2010 or newer equipment are now facing another mandate to upgrade to unproven, electric equipment in the coming years.
The association supports incentives towards updating fleets and meeting compliance, but the electrification plan has been relied upon too heavily over this past year.
Cotton’s Calendar
Oct. 19: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas Nov. 18: Calcot Board of Directors Meeting, California Dec. 14: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas
2023
Jan. 10-12: 2023 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, New Orleans Marriott, New Orleans, Louisiana Jan. 11: North Carolina Cotton Producers Association 2023 Annual Meeting Jan. 18-21: Southern Southeastern Annual Meeting, Marriott Myrtle Beach Grand Dunes, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Jan. 22-24: 2023 ACSA Mid-Winter Board Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Jan. 23-27: 2023 NAICC Annual Meeting and AG PRO EXPO, Omni Nashville Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee Jan. 25: 2023 Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting, UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton, Georgia Feb. 8-10: Louisiana Agricultural Technology & Management Conference, Paragon Casino Resort, Marksville, Louisiana Feb. 10-12: National Cotton Council Annual Meeting, Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, Texas Feb. 23: SCGA Annual Meeting, The Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee Feb. 24-25: 71st Mid-South Farm and Gin Show, Renasant Convention Center, Memphis, Tennessee March 30-31: TCGA Annual Meeting & Trade Show, Lubbock, Texas April 12-14: American Cotton Producers, Hyatt Regency DFW, Dallas, Texas
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