Mid-South Cotton Producers Visiting Georgia Operations

By Jim.Robinson|June 20, 2013

Eight Mid-South cotton producers are visiting cotton operations in Georgia June 24-28 as part of the 2013 National Cotton Council’s Producer Information Exchange program (P.I.E.). Sponsored by Bayer CropScience via a grant to The Cotton Foundation, the P.I.E. program is now in its 25th year of helping US cotton producer participants improve yields and fiber quality.

The program is designed to help producers improve their overall farming operation efficiency by gaining new perspectives in such fundamental practices as land preparation, planting, fertilization, pest control, irrigation and harvesting; and observing the unique ways in which their peers in other regions of the country are using current technology.

Upon completion of this year’s tours, the P.I.E. program will have exposed more than 1,050 U.S. cotton producers to innovative production practices in regions different than their own.

Participating in the first tour of the year are Laudies Brantley of England, AR; Colt Oswalt and Becca Thom, both from Lake Providence, LA; Clint Dunn of Itta Bena, MS; Will Jones of Tchula, MS; Ruffin Smith of Louise, MS; and Ron Goodman and Jack Phillips, both from Yazoo City, MS.

The group’s tour includes a visit with Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, as well as other state industry organizations including the Georgia Cotton Commission in Perry. During their four-day tour of South Georgia, the group will see innovations in cotton, peanut, grain, vegetable, pecan and tobacco production, plus visit several manufacturers of farming and ginning equipment.