Enhanced Cotton Efficiencies Focus of 2019 Beltwide Cotton Conferences

January is rapidly approaching, which means it’s time to circle the 2019 Beltwide Cotton Conferences (BWCC) on your calendar.

Set for January 8-10 at the New Orleans Marriott, the 2019 edition of this annual conference – coordinated by the National Cotton Council (NCC) – aims to highlight current research and the emerging technologies available to help cotton growers improve production, processing and marketing efficiency.

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“The Beltwide Cotton Conferences facilitate interaction between leading researchers, consultants, Extension agents, agribusiness personnel, students, and county agents,” said Lauren Krogman, assistant manager, Marketing & Processing Technology for the National Cotton Council and BWCC coordinator.

“Attendees have the opportunity to discuss the latest research findings,” she added. “This not only aids in the fine-tuning of research efforts and product development, but also helps in the immediate application of advanced and proven production techniques for cotton.”

Information on the 2019 BWCC, including instructions on registration and housing reservations, is now available online at Cotton.org/Beltwide. The site also includes a link to BWCC proceedings from 2005-2018.

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Here’s the program schedule as currently set:

January 8 – The BWCC begins at noon with the half-day Cotton Consultants Conference, which is open to all attendees. Among scheduled topics selected by the consultant community are:

  • An expert panel of entomologists to discuss bollworm and Bt resistance
  • Objectives of cover crop initiatives
  • Status and new products pertaining to nematodes
  • The current state of integrated pest management in cotton and future considerations
  • The status of boll weevil eradication in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
  • Product registration update.

January 9-10 – The BWCC cotton technical conferences, which provide updates on research and a look into the technology pipeline, will meet concurrently from the morning of January 9 through noon on January 10. Some examples of what attendees can expect this year include:

  • The Ginning Conference will feature several presentations critical to cotton quality and efficient processing, including updates regarding ongoing ginning research, new equipment, cottonseed, and lint contamination research/prevention.
  • The Cotton Engineering Systems Conference will include a panel addressing sustainability issues.
  • The Cotton Improvement Conference will again feature five-minute lightning talks from poster presentation authors. Initiated last year, the intent of these quick presentations is to cover the main points of the authors’ research to help stimulate more discussion later at the poster session.

“These technical sessions provide an opportunity to hear what’s in the pipeline,” said Krogman. “That includes items such as traits in new plant varieties, latest chemistries, lint contamination prevention, regulatory issues, and the newest precision agriculture equipment.”

On-site conference self-registration kiosks will be available 24 hours a day beginning the evening of January 7. NCC staff will be available to assist attendees with registration and name badges on January 8.

Registration costs for the 2019 BWCC before December 17 are $200 for NCC/Cotton Foundation members, university and USDA researchers, Extension personnel, associations and consultants; $500 for non-U.S. research, extension, associations and consultants; $400 for non-NCC/Foundation members; and $80 for students.

December 17 is also the cutoff date to receive the discounted conference rate for room reservations.

 

From Cotton Grower Magazine – November 2018

 

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