The Cotton Companion

Cotton Companion: Beltwide Cotton Conferences Ready to Kick Off 2025

Ready or not, the annual Beltwide Cotton Conferences are coming to New Orleans in mid-January. Lauren Krogman with the NCC joins the podcast to preview some of the plans and updates for the 2025 meeting.

Time to Focus on Cover Crops

Jessica Kelton with the Soil Health Institute and Dr. Drew Smith with Rodale Institute join the podcast to review the latest research on the value of cover crops in conventional (and organic) cotton production.

Weathering Multiple Storms

Cotton is finding itself managing through literal and figurative storms - from hurricanes in the Southeast to heavy lobbying efforts for a new farm bill and economic relief for financially strapped farmers. Georgia Extension Cotton Specialist Camp Hand and the NCC's Robbie Minnich join the podcast to share what's happening on both storm fronts. 

 

When Will We See a New Farm Bill?

Despite all of the talk and political uncertainty, the reality is the U.S. farmers need a new farm bill - and soon. Dr. Darren Hudson of Texas Tech University joins the podcast to discuss the current situation and the paths ahead moving into 2025.

Cottongrower.com

Setting the Record Straight on Cotton Promotion

The impact of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program has recently drawn some criticism, particularly when it comes to creating demand. Bill Gillon of The Cotton Board says some of that may be justified considering today's market headwinds, but the bigger picture says otherwise. He joins the podcast to explain.

Making Sense of Cotton's Volatile Year

Confused over this year's ever-shifting cotton acreage and production numbers? We are, too. So, we asked Dr. O.A. Cleveland to explain.

West Texas Optimism

Ken Legé, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Cotton Specialist in Lubbock, joins the podcast to discuss the high hopes - and potential remaining challenges - regarding this year's West Texas cotton crop after two years of extreme drought. 

Slumping Prices and the Million Acre Surprise

Why is the cotton market slump continuing and where did an extra million planted acres over spring projections come from? Dr. John Robinson joins the podcast to explain.

Weed Control's Latest Issues, Challenges and Opportunities

Dr. Larry Steckel, Tennessee Extension weed specialist, joins the podcast in our annual plot-side interview to discuss current weed management issues and challenges, plus some promising new solutions. 

 

How Banned Cotton Still Muddies Cotton's Supply Chain Transparency

Two years after legislation banned imports into the U.S. containing cotton from China's Xinjiang region, a recent report shows it's still slipping through in multiple products. Bob Antoshak of Gherzi Textil Organization and MaiLin Wan of Applied DNA Sciences join the podcast to discuss why and steps needed to tighten import monitoring.