Caucus Schedule Set for Cotton Board Nominations

The caucus schedule for Certified Producer Organization (CPOs) and Certified Importer Organizations (CIOs) tasked with nominating candidates to fill vacancies for the Cotton Board has been set.

USDA recently announced that the department is seeking candidates to fill 17 member and 17 alternate positions representing cotton producers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, as well as importers, beginning in 2017. The Secretary of Agriculture will make the final selection of members and alternates from those nominations.

“Serving on the Cotton Board gives growers an opportunity to represent their respective state in a leadership position and be a voice that provides valuable insight to help shape the activities of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program,” said Aaron Barcellos, California cotton producer and current chairman of The Cotton Board. “As stakeholders in the Program, cotton producers are encouraged to bring their ideas, energy and love for the cotton industry to the Cotton Board.”

“This is our industry and our program,” stated George LaCour, Cotton Board Secretary and a Louisiana producer. “It is up to us, as cotton producers, to serve as leaders and bring our ideas to the table. I have never served with a group that is more innovative or more committed to helping cotton than the members of the Cotton Board. I have learned from them, and I hope they have learned from me.

“We have a lot more to accomplish,” he added. “I have faith in this industry and the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. I encourage the next generation of leaders to get active in their local certified organizations and help lead our future.”

Nominating CPOs for the upcoming caucuses are:

Alabama – Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Alabama Farmers Federation, Southern Cotton Growers, Staplcotn.

Florida – Florida Farm Bureau, Southern Cotton Growers, Staplcotn.

Georgia – Georgia Cotton Commission, Georgia Farm Bureau, Southern Cotton Growers, Staplcotn.

Kansas – Kansas Cotton Association, Kansas Farm Bureau, Plains Cotton Cooperative Association.

Missouri – Cotton Producers of Missouri, Missouri Farm Bureau, Staplcotn.

New Mexico – New Mexico State University, New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau, New Mexico’s Pecos Valley Farmers Association.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Farmers Union (aka American Farmers/Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company),Plains Cotton Cooperative Association.

South Carolina – South Carolina Farm Bureau, South Carolina State Grange, Carolinas Cotton Growers Cooperative, Staplcotn.

Tennessee – Staplcotn, Tennessee Farm Bureau, American Agriculture Movement Inc. of Tennessee, Tennessee Agricultural Council.

Texas – Blackland Cotton & Grain Producers Association, Cotton & Grain Producers of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, El Paso Valley Cotton Association, Farmers Cooperative Compress, Fort Bend County Cotton & Grain Association, Gulf Compress, Plains Cotton Cooperative Association, PYCO Industries, Plains Cotton Growers, Rolling Plains Cotton Growers, Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association, South Texas Cotton & Grain Association, Texas Cotton Growers Cooperative Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council, Trans Pecos Cotton Association, St. Lawrence Cotton Growers Association, Valley Co-op Oil Mill.

Virginia – Carolinas Cotton Growers Cooperative, Virginia Cotton Board, Virginia Farm Bureau, Virginia Cotton Growers Association, Southern Cotton Growers.

 

Nominations are accepted by CPOs until the date and time of the caucus. Each certified cotton producer organization within the state and/or certified importer organization is invited to send one representative to the caucus. The full caucus schedule is:

• New Mexico – July 8, 3:30 pm, Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino, Mescalero, NM
• Importers – July 12, 9:00 am; 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington DC
• Texas – July 20, 11:00 am; Austin Marriott South, Austin, TX
• Oklahoma – July 21, 11:00 am; Southwest Research & Extension Center, Altus, OK
• Kansas – July 22, 10:00 am, Doubletree Hotel Wichita Airport, Wichita, KS
• Missouri – July 27, 8:00 am; University of Missouri Research & Education Center, Portageville, MO
• Tennessee – July 29, 1:00 pm; University of Tennessee Ag Research & Education Center, Milan, TN
• Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia – July 31, beginning at 1:00 pm, Southern Southeastern Meeting, Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, FL

 

Source – The Cotton Board