Survey Shows Growing Consumer Demand for Sustainable Practices

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cotton, Florida, Georgia

MEMPHIS, TENN. – (July 16, 2020) – A recent global survey shows 54% of sustainability leaders at apparel and textile brands say they’ve seen their customers’ demands for environmentally sustainable practices and products increase since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. But 59% said they believe customers will still continue to prioritize price when making purchases. The U.S. Cotton Trust …

With Trust Protocol, Brands and Retailers Can Source U.S. Cotton With More Confidence

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cotton, Florida, Georgia

The Trust Protocol brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurementsto responsible cotton production MEMPHIS, TENN. – (July 15, 2020) – Starting today, brands and retailers can join the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, a new system for responsibly grown cotton that will provide annual data for six areas of sustainability in line with the U.N. Sustainability Goals. This year-over-year data, available …

Alabama Cotton Specialist: It’s Make Cotton Time Now

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cotton

By Clint Thompson It is a critical time in cotton plants’ development this year, so water is essential for producers in the Southeast. Alabama Extension cotton specialist Steve Brown said rainfall is needed for growers, though, there does not appear to be much in the forecast over the next month. “The biggest thing we should be concerned about is that …

Condition Update for Cotton, Peanut Crops

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cotton, Florida, Georgia, Peanuts

The condition numbers for the 2020 cotton crop are down this week compared to this time last year. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the crop is rated considerably lower than last year. Rippey has the latest look at cotton squaring and setting bolls. Rippey has the latest outlook for the nation’s peanut crop. In Alabama, 77% of the cotton crop …

High Whitefly Populations a Concern for Cotton Growers

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cotton, Florida, Georgia, Pest/Pest Control

By Clint Thompson Cotton growers in Georgia and Alabama need to be mindful of high whitefly populations. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension cotton entomologist Phillip Roberts said silverleaf whitefly populations have increased rapidly in some Georgia fields in the past 10 days. Since cotton is susceptible, producers need to scout and take appropriate action. “It’s extremely important that you know …

Cotton, Peanut Crops on Par With Development

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cotton, Florida, Georgia, Peanuts

According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), cotton and peanut crops continue to develop. As a matter of fact, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says there was some overall improvement in the nation’s cotton crop this past week. Rippey says the pace of cotton squaring and setting bolls is pretty much on par with the five-year averages. Rippey also …

Less Cotton in Georgia This Year

Clint Thompson Cotton, Georgia

When USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its 2020 planted acreage reports, it noted growers across the belt planted 12.2 million acres this year, which is down 11% from last year. In Georgia, producers planted 1.2 million acres of cotton this year, which is down from the 1.4 million acres last year. But Georgia Cotton Commission’s Taylor Sills told …

Cotton Scouting School Goes Digital, Set for July 24

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cotton, Pest/Pest Control

By Katie Nichols For 60 years, Extension scientists taught the Scouting School in person and hands-on. But the 61st Cotton Scouting School is going digital — pushed to an online version because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The short course will be July 24 from 8 a.m. to noon via Zoom. Growers, consultants, scouts and others are encouraged to attend just as …