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Georgia Cotton Commission
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Georgia Cotton Commission Approves 2019 Research
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At its April 11th Board Meeting, the Georgia Cotton Commission Board of Directors approved $697,802 in research for the 2019 crop year, an increase from the $665,196 approved for 2018. This money will go to fund 21 research projects that will be conducted by researchers from the University of Georgia and the University of West Georgia. These projects range from funding for the UGA Cotton Team, to precision ag research and the marking and treatment of root-knot nematode resistant genes in cotton, and many more. The goal of this producer-funded research is to help cotton producer’s bottom lines by conducting research that can either raise yields, promote efficiency, or open new markets.
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Everyone Take a Seat on the Cotton Roller Coaster
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Over the past several months, outside influences on the cotton industry have felt like the Dahlonega Mine Train at Six Flags Over Georgia: ups, downs, dramatic twists, and lots of bumps along the way. Producers have seen proposed policies fail, others be implemented, a significant market uptick, one of the US’s largest overseas markets be closed then open again, and now significant rains that have slowed down progress on the 2018 crop. Thankfully there are signs that the ride is about to level off.
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Upcoming Events
- July 19th, Watkinsville Cotton Field Day, J. Phil Campbell Research Farm, Watkinsville
- August 15th, UGA Midville Field Day, UGA Southeast Research & Education Center, Midville
- September 5th, Peanut & Cotton Field Day, UGA TIfton Campus, Tifton
- September, NW Georgia/NE Alabama UGA/Auburn Field Day, Location TBD
- January 8-10, Beltwide Cotton Conferences, New Orleans Marriott, New Orleans, LA
- January 30th, Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting, UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton
- February 8-10, National Cotton Council Annual Meeting, Marriott Rivercenter, San Antonio, TX
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Leaders Pass Farm Legislation, but Crucible Remains for Farm Bill
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On June 21st, the U.S. House of Representatives passed their version of the Farm Bill on a narrow (213-211), largely party line vote. The Senate passed their version June 28th in a much more bi-partisan fashion (86-11). The House bill drastically changes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Senate version pulls money from textile mills and puts it in to biomass and renewable fuels, just to highlight a few differences.
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Palmer Amaranth Management Key for Georgia Cotton Farmers
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Using postemergence herbicides to control problematic weeds has been recently successful for Georgia cotton farmers, according to University of Georgia Cooperative Extension weed specialist Stanley Culpepper.
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Boll Weevil Foundation Leaders Transition
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Earlier this year, the Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation of Georgia said goodbye to two long time leaders of their organization. Brooks County cotton producer Herbert Price stepped down as BWEFG Chairman, he is replaced by Colquitt County producer Bart Davis. Jim Wilson retired as BWEFG Executive Director, a position filled by Alan Lowman. Thanks to these men for their decade of dedicated service to the cotton industry.
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- Distributed first e-newsletter
- Prepared support letters for glyphosate human risk assessment, neonicotinoid registration review, nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Deputy Administrator of EPA, ag labor reform, and Farm Bill.
- Attended American Cotton Producers Spring Meeting in Dallas, Texas.
- Held Research Advisory Committee meeting.
- Held Board and State Support meeting.
- Presented and Sponsored UGA Tifton Campus MVP Award at UGA Tifton Graduation.
- Attended and Sponsored Georgia FFA Convention.
- Exhibited at Georgia FFA Career Show
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- Presented and Sponsored Georgia FFA Fiber and Oil Crop Production Proficiency Award.
- Judged Georgia FFA State Extemporaneous Speaking Career Development Event.
- Exhibited at Ben Hill County Ag Day.
- Exhibited at and Sponsored at Georgia Association of Extension 4-H Agents Conference in Athens.
- Sent "Cotton: The Story" educational kits and/or other materials to educators in Mitchell, Fulton, and Taliaferro Counties
- Sent "Cotton: The Story" educational kits to educators in Alabama
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- Discussed promotional partnerships with Georgia Public Television, Georgia Southern Athletics, UGA Athletics, and others.
- Finalized Crop Year 2019 research funding.
- Support for regional research grant to develop IPM strategies in water deficient cotton production systems.
- Participated in Cotton Board and Engenia stewardship conference calls.
- Sponsored and attended Georgia USDA Congressional staff briefing.
- Georgia Grown Magazine interview.
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- Attended NRCS State Technical Committee Meeting.
- Meeting with ABAC Dean of Agriculture & Natural Resources Mark Kistler.
- Contacted Member of Georgia Congressional Delegation regarding Farm Bill and Farm Bill amendments.
- Participated in The Cotton Board Conference Call
- Sent “Cotton: The Story” educational kits to educators in Talbot, Haralson, Fulton, Cherokee, and Toombs Counties
- Sent "Cotton: The Story" educational kits to educators in Alabama.
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- Held Research Review Day in Tifton.
- Sponsored and Attended Georgia Press Association Convention in Jekyll ISland.
- Attended UGA Extension Entomology Scout School in Tifton.
- Participated in Whitefly congressional staff briefing with UGA and Fort Valley State University in Washington, DC.
- National Cotton Council of America farm policy conference call.
- Attended meeting with UGA CAES Dean along with other Commodity Commissions
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- Made visits with offices of Senators Isakson, Perdue, Boozman (AR), and Jones (AL) as well as Congressman Collins, Allen, Ferguson, Austin Scott, David Scott, Carter, Hice, and Dunn (FL). Also met with staffers in House Appropriations Committee majority office and both offices of House Agriculture Committee.
- Held Board Meeting.
- Sent "Cotton: The Story" educational kits to educators in South Carolina.
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Georgia Cotton Commission
Board of Directors
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Bart Davis
Chairman
Colquitt County
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Matt Coley
Vice-Chairman
Dooly County
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Lee Cromley
Bulloch County
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Jimmy Webb
Calhoun County
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Steven Meeks
Wayne County
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Chris Hopkins
Toombs County
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Gary Black
Commissioner
Georgia Department of Agriculture
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Gerald Long
President
Georgia Farm Bureau
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Richey Seaton
Executive Director
richey@georgiacotton.org
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Martha Harris
Office Manager
martha@georgiacotton.org
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Taylor Sills
Director of Public Affairs
taylor@georgiacotton.org
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