MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The National Cotton Council (NCC) extends its gratitude to President Trump and Secretary Brooke Rollins for their swift action in providing up to $10 billion in direct economic assistance to agricultural producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP). This timely support is a crucial lifeline for cotton producers facing increased input costs and market uncertainties. This …
Taylor Sills, Georgia Cotton Commission On March 18th, which was also National Agriculture Day, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the availability of funding for the new Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP). This program seeks to aid American row crop producers who are reeling from depressed commodity markets and unsustainable input prices. The Georgia Cotton Commission is appreciative of this …
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Patrick Johnson, a Tunica, Miss., producer, who previously served as National Cotton Council (NCC) vice chairman, was elected NCC chairman for 2025 during the organization’s annual meeting in Dallas, Texas. Nathan Reed, a producer from Marianna, Ark., will serve as NCC vice chairman for 2025. Johnson is a NCC Cotton Leadership Program graduate and past participant in …
Washington, D.C. (Feb. 19, 2025) – Carlo Bocardo, a cooperative official from Bakersfield, Calif., will serve as Cotton Council International’s (CCI) president for 2025. CCI is the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) export promotion arm and carries out programs in 50 plus countries under the COTTON USA™ trademark. Bocardo and other CCI officers were elected at CCI’s Board Meeting held as …
The Georgia Cotton Commission’s Trustees’ Awards were presented at the 2025 Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting January 29 in Tifton. The Trustees’ Awards are awarded to individuals who have dedicated themselves to the advancement of the cotton industry in Georgia. Producers, research and extension specialists and other cotton industry associates of high character and integrity who have given exceptional service …
As the global economy recovers from COVID-19, supply chain challenges and heightened demand, causing a significant rise in cotton input costs compared to market prices. Since the enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill, cotton production expenses have surged by 27%, with interest costs increasing more than 200% while expenditures on labor, seed, and chemicals haverisen by approximately 50%. As cotton …
The Georgia Cotton Commission is appreciative of the recent passage of the continuing resolution that included both disaster assistance and direct economic assistance for cotton producers and is hopeful that the United States Department of Agriculture will implement these programs soon. Georgia Cotton Commission Chairman Bart Davis, a cotton producer from Colquitt County, said, “this assistance is critical for farmers …
On behalf of Georgia’s 3,500 cotton farming families, the Georgia Cotton Commission recently donated 12,000 pairs of socks to various homeless shelters across the state. Farmers delivered socks to Open Arms in Albany, Brother Charlie’s in Tifton, Lowndes Associated Ministries to People in Valdosta, Voluntary Action Center in Calhoun, The Sparrow’s Nest in Athens, The Hope Center of Toccoa, the …
Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has modified the 2012 suspension of agricultural water withdrawal permits in portions of the Lower Flint and Chattahoochee River Basins, allowing for the issuance of the first new agricultural water withdrawal permits in this area in over a decade. Starting April 1, 2025, EPD will accept …
Nominations for the 2024 Georgia Quality Cotton Awards are now open. The purpose of the awards is to recognize producers and ginners of high-quality cotton fiber and to identify their general management practices for the benefit of other growers. If you have a cotton gin(s) in your county, please contact the gin(s), give the gin the attached nomination information, and …
2024 was a year of challenges for Georgia growers from start to finish it seemed like. Even before the season got going I had many conversations with growers revolving around the current economic situation on the farm and how the outlook was bleak. Couple that with struggling to get the crop planted, virus induced bronze wilt, late season plant bugs, …
Yangxuan Liu, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia Cotton farming is a complex business, and growers have faced significant financial challenges over the years. In particular, 2024 proved to be a difficult year for cotton producers, marked by high input costs and low cotton prices, which left many struggling with negative profit margins. In 2024, …
