By Clint Thompson
The Georgia Cotton Commission’s (GCC) annual meeting on Wednesday allowed producers and industry leaders to meet together and discuss the future of the industry. It was an important day considering the uncertainty surrounding this year’s crop amid drastically low market prices for Georgia producers.
Camp Hand, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension cotton agronomist, talked about the importance of this week’s meeting.
“It’s a great opportunity to get the industry together. We all are aware of the situation that we are in,” Hand said.
“Cotton today, at December Futures, are at 68, 69 cents. It costs 90 cents to grow the crop. It’s good to see so many growers here today trying to get the information to go back, and if you decide to put the seed in the ground, you’ve got to make the crop. They’re getting ready, getting geared up to do it again. I’m just glad to see that and hoping we can make it work.”
Hand and his UGA Extension colleagues presented information pertinent to this year’s crop. Relevant topics included plant diseases, insect pests, soil fertility, irrigation and marketing.
Other Topics
Stanley Culpepper, UGA Extension weed scientist, discussed the uncertainties surrounding dicamba availability and how growers must proceed accordingly.
Jeff Kuckuck, Senior Government Relations Director for the National Cotton Council, provided a legislative update and stressed the need for a new Farm Bill.
William Kimbrell, with Cotton Incorporated, highlighted cotton marketing and its importance.
The meeting was held at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia.