New Season Begins In Nashville
February 23, 2009 As we usher in a new cotton-growing season, my first trip for 2008 will be attending the National Cotton Council’s Beltwide Cotton Conferences, January 8-11, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN.
I have been asked to provide an update on the research and promotion activities of Cotton Incorporated during the Production Conference General Session, Wednesday, January 9, at 8:30 a.m.
At 9:30 a.m. during that same General Session, Cotton Incorporated’s new vice president of Agricultural Research, Dr. Kater Hake, will give a report on variety improvements. Kater joined Cotton Incorporated on September 1, 2007, and has already spoken at several industry meetings, taking on a key role in our efforts to promote cotton’s sustainability to retailers, brands and manufacturers.
Multiple Cotton Incorporated-funded research presentations will be given during Wednesday and Thursday’s Quality Measurements Conference, and a seminar detailing new and innovative Standardized Record Keeping Software will be conducted on Wednesday afternoon.
Through your Cotton Research and Promotion Program, these presentations will showcase new developments that you can use to increase your on-farm efficiency and/or advance the position of U.S. cotton in the global marketplace. I look forward to seeing you in Nashville.
MarketNews:
Cotton Incorporated Floats Down Broadway
If you didn’t watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, you literally missed a cornucopia of advertising on the naturalness of cotton.
A cotton-themed float rolled down Broadway decorated with Cotton Incorporated’s new “Natural” trademark, which is now being offered to retailers and brands to help them market 100% cotton products.
“Our float stood out thanks to a giant horn-of-plenty, overflowing with fall’s favorite fruits of harvest,” said Paula Rosario, Cotton Incorporated’s vice president, Consumer Marketing – Strategic Alliances.
On top of the float, Cherokee Nation Youth Choir members were dressed in traditional tear-cotton attire (crafted garments featuring the tearing of fabric by hand), singing songs of the season in the Cherokee language.
Cotton Incorporated also had street teams located throughout Manhattan early Thanksgiving morning distributing cotton flannel ear warmers to spectators of the parade. “To participate in such an iconic American experience such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was a natural choice, as cotton is America’s favorite natural fiber,” Rosario added.
Cottonseed Meeting Feed Demands
Dairy-feed ingredient costs surged in value during 2007.
Prices for whole fuzzy cottonseed reached new highs. Reduced plantings along with increased demand, especially by many west coast dairy producers, has intensified the rivalry among feed, food and fuel interests vying for cottonseed supplies.
“Even at record prices, dairymen are still buying cottonseed as a supplemental feed ingredient for their cattle,” said Tom Wedegaertner, director, Cottonseed Research and Marketing, Cotton Incorporated.
“Cottonseed is still a cost-effective feedstuff in the big picture,” added Dr. Carl Old, an independent nutritionist in Le Grand, CA. “Feed prices are about 50% higher now than they were when milk was half the price.”
Old, who consults for about 20 large dairies in California and New Mexico, explained that cottonseed is critical for increasing butterfat, especially in the Western United States where a lot of milk is going into cheese production.
Captions:
Cotton Incorporated Macy’s Float.
Fuzzy cottonseed.
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