(Washington, D.C./May 1, 2025) — Fashion industry veteran and sustainability expert Liz Hershfield will lead Cotton Council International (CCI), the export promotion arm of the National Cotton Council of America (NCC), as its new Executive Director. Hershfield succeeds Bruce Atherley, who retired at the end of March. “Strong leadership and innovative strategies are essential to maintaining U.S. cotton’s competitive edge,” …
Cotton Trust Protocol Opens 2025 Enrollment
The Georgia Cotton Commission reminds its growers that cotton producers can now enroll in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and apply for the Climate Smart Cotton Program for the 2025 crop year. The Trust Protocol provides farmers with data and resources to choose practices that are most suitable for their land and farming operation. By tracking key metrics like water …
Three Companies Partner for Sustainable Beef
Three companies are partnering to improving sustainability in beef production, Rusty Halvorson has the story. McDonald’s USA, Syngenta North America, and Lopez Foods are joining forces to improve sustainability in beef production. Their focus is on Enogen® corn, an innovation from Syngenta that boosts cattle feed efficiency. By helping cattle convert feed into energy more effectively, Enogen® corn reduces the …
Imports of Animal Fats and Processed Oils Have Skyrocketed
U.S. imports of animal fats, greases, and processed oils, including used cooking oil, skyrocketed to almost five billion pounds in 2023 from 2.2 billion pounds in 2022. The surge in imports has been driven by rising domestic production of biomass-based diesel – fuels derived from animal fats and vegetable oils – to meet U.S federal and state policies aimed at …
GCC Highlights Enrollment for Cotton Trust Protocol
The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) continues to encourage producers to enroll in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, an initiative launched in 2020 that drives continuous improvement across six metrics, including water use, energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, soil conservation, soil carbon and land use. Taylor Sills, GCC executive director, provided updates for growers who might have additional questions on how …
Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small Continues College Tour with Visit to University of Florida
Visit underscores Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to Land-Grant Institutions, Includes Specialty Crop Roundtable The visit is part of Deputy Secretary Torres Small’s College Tour, which began earlier this month, and continues over several weeks. (GAINESVILLE, FL, Jan. 26, 2024) – U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small visited the University of Florida (UF) on Friday, January 26, to highlight the U.S. Department …
GCC Encourages Members to Enroll in Cotton Trust Protocol
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) reminds its members about the value of joining the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, a significant marketability tool for the state’s cotton producers. Chaz Holt, Grower Enrollment Specialist in the Southeast for the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, discussed the value of producers enrolling, specifically with his area of focus, the Climate Smart Cotton …
Consider Composting for Holiday Leftovers
What to do instead of tossing those holiday leftovers that were “leftover” too long. Consider composting practices and the gift that keeps on giving. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Are there some Thanksgiving leftovers that will stick around in the refrigerator too long? Experts at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences suggest you …
Acres Enrolled in Cotton Trust Protocol Reaches 1.6 Million
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission reminds its producers that the opportunity to enroll in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, a major marketability tool for the state’s cotton growers, is approaching soon. Growers can enroll in the Trust Protocol and apply for the Climate Smart Cotton Program, a five-year initiative led by the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, when the …
Conservation Easement Program Sign Up for Florida Landowners Extended through June 30
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) wants Florida landowners interested in aligning their land uses with conservation values, to know they have additional time to apply for a conservation easement program. The application deadline for fiscal year 2023 funding through this Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) has been extended from its original June 16th deadline to June 30th to allow …




