Mid-South Farm & Gin Show: Two Days Of U.S. Cotton
January 27, 2009 For cotton growers and ginners located in the Memphis area and across the Southern U.S., the Mid-South Farm & Gin (MSF&G) Show is the symbolic beginning of the upcoming cotton season.
The exhibition and conference offers a wealth of information and gives agri-businesses a chance to meet face-to-face with their clients to answer questions and offer the latest technological advances in cotton production. But perhaps even more important than that, the show serves as a monitor on the pulse of the U.S. cotton industry, as the exhibitors, lecturers and attendees spend two days talking about the future of U.S. cotton. For many, the MSF&G Show gives the first hands-on look at the year ahead for U.S. cotton.
“When you look at what happens in one part of the world, and given the inter-relationship that now exists – where we are part of a global marketplace, part of a global economy – what goes on right now in the United States is a fantastic forecasting snapshot for a major world producer and an even larger world consumer of agriculture goods and services,” said Tim Price, manager of the MSF&G Show. “For an international market participant who wants to get a handle on what the outlook and adjusting capabilities are, this is one place for them to get it. An international customer can come here and get a look at the mood for both the producers and consumers of agricultural products and services.”
For the second year, Allenberg Cotton Company CEO Joe Nicosia gave his outlook for the upcoming year and beyond, telling U.S. cotton growers “not to sell their equipment yet, the party is just getting started.” The rising price of grains, combined with cotton’s long-term supply and demand, should bolster cotton prices in the future, Nicosia said. Possibilities for industry growth and adaptation was a reoccurring theme at this year’s show, both in the conference presentations and on the show floor.
“I think the atmosphere showed that the U.S. industry has been through a year of change. We know that there is more to come, and we know it is really important to really take an assessment of what all these things mean. And I think that there is far more optimism in the cotton sector right now than there was a year ago – that is because we are beginning to see that the market system does work,” Price said. “There are clearly stronger price signals saying there is value to cotton and its by-products that we didn’t have a year ago. The show managed to capture the sense of change and absolute ability, resilience, and knowledge of U.S. agriculture to adjust to that enormous change in the industry.”
International Guests Welcome
The show is open to all international guests who want to get this first-hand look at the U.S. cotton industry, and international cotton producers and ginner get a chance see some of the innovative products and services that could improve their operations. Drawing crowds at this year’s show, the new module-building pickers from Case IH and John Deere were on display in the same room for producer to examine. Other exhibits included large sprayers, planters and ginning equipment, such as Lummus gins and the Consolidated product lines.
Lummus Product General Manager Ross Rutherford said the MSF&G Show allows his company to meet and talk with potential customers who want to learn more about their products. Last year, a Brazilian customer bought two Lummus gin stands at the show after seeing the machinery and discussing it with Lummus representatives.
“It is a good opportunity for them to be able to come to Memphis and see the machinery. The MSF&G Show has a great opportunity to get some international attendees to the show and to get them into the booths so they can see the technology and talk with the people who have the knowledge and expertise,” Rutherford said.
“This year at the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show, we brought our chief product engineer and our chief electrical engineer, and this gives customers a chance to get answers to a lot of their questions, especially concerning a lot of the technological things dealing with the controls and hydraulics, as well as the things that we have coming in the next five years,” he said.
“We are positioning ourselves to anticipate and meet those needs in the future, and these trade shows like the MSF&G Show gives us a chance to talk to people and demonstrate the product,” he said.
This interaction between customer and client, as well as the information exchange at the conferences, gives attendees more information and perspective on the U.S. cotton industry in a quick two-day event located in Memphis – the traditional cotton capital of the world.
“The total package of this show – the type of exhibitors, the educational and outlook seminars, and the one-on-one conversations, as well as products and services offered, we clearly think this forum hits the right note at the right time to be a fantastic educational experience for all participants,” Price said. “We came out of the conferences with a deeper understanding that we live in a world where it is more important than ever to stay in tune with the cause and effects out there and to be ready to adjust and adapt, and to understand that risk management is an absolute key.”
Caption:
The MSF&G Show gives attendees a chance to talk one-on-one with businesses that offer a wide range of agriculture products and services.
Caption:
Allenberg Cotton Company CEO Joe Nicosia gave his outlook for the near and long terms during the AgUpdate Seminars.
Caption:
Case IH and John Deere displayed their on-board, module-building pickers in the same room during the 2008 Mid-South Farm & Gin Show.
Caption:
Lummus Corporation had an exhibit for both its Lummus and Consolidated product lines at the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show. Last year, Lummus sold two gins to a Brazilian ginner at the event.
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