From the Georgia Department of Agriculture:
Georgia cotton farmers voted to renew the marketing order for Georgia cotton by passing the referendum with an 87% favorable vote. The affirmative vote renews the $1 bale assessment which funds the Georgia Cotton Commission. The Commission is charged by law with providing programs of research, promotion and education on behalf of Georgia cotton producers. Throughout the 50 year history of the Georgia Cotton Commission, millions of dollars have been invested in research, education, and promotion of Georgia cotton.
Much of the funds received by the Commission are committed to research projects conducted by the University of Georgia regarding issues related to cotton production to provide producers with the latest information and techniques to keep their operations profitable. Some of the projects funded include work on: Palmer amaranth pigweed, insect control, nematode control programs, product comparisons, fertility studies and varietal trials.
The 2014 Georgia Farm Gate Value Report communicated Georgia’s cotton crop was valued at $964,678,523, and is currently the third highest grossing agricultural commodity in the state. In addition to its monetary merit, it is also a significant contributor to the economy of the communities where cotton is grown in Georgia. In 2015, Georgia cotton farmers planted 1,138,000 acres of cotton and harvested an estimated 2 million bales.
Voting by cotton producers took place Feb. 8 to March 8, 2016.