Climate Smart Cotton Program Level 2 Applications Open
U.S. cotton growers can now enroll in Climate Smart Cotton Program Level 2. This program, led by the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, gives Level 1 growers the opportunity to receive additional financial support for implementing Climate Smart Practice Changes into their operations. Additional practice options were also added this year, increasing the number of growers eligible to participate.
To qualify for Level 2, growers must meet Level 1 requirements, adopt a new Climate Smart Agriculture practice, verify practice adoption, participate in soil health target setting, and quantify greenhouse gas emissions on all practice change acres.
NCC officers, directors, and advisors attending the NCC's 2024 Board of Directors Mid-Year Meeting on August 21-23 at the Peabody Memphis Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, should log in and register at www.cotton.org/news/meetings/2024midyear/index.cfm. The form will be pre-filled, so click the “Submit Registration” button at the bottom. Registrants will receive an email confirmation. Meeting schedule information also is available via that link.
The hotel reservations cut-off date is Wednesday, July 24. Please make room reservations either on-line at https://bit.ly/3Xr95X9 or by calling the hotel’s reservation department at 1-800-PEABODY and refer to group name National Cotton Council Board Meeting.
For air travel assistance, contact Peggy Robinson, the NCC's travel consultant at 901-762-7017 direct or probinson@travelennium.com.
2024 Bale Packaging Specifications Approved
Acting Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, USDA-FSA, John Berge, notified the NCC that the Joint Cotton Industry Bale Packaging Committee (JCIBPC) 2024 Specification recommendations for Cotton Bale Packaging Materials are approved for Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) loan program purposes. The 2024 Specifications are identical to the specifications for the previous year’s crop except for the added section 2.1.4. Markings which outlines approved markings on bales. The JCIBPC did not receive any test program requests for the 2024-2025 marketing year.
Additionally, the committee determined hanging PBI bale tags that use small gauge wire or zip ties are to be removed as an approved product from the specifications after the 2024 crop year. Following the 2024 crop year, only adhesive type PBI tagging will be approved for use per the Bale Packaging Specifications https://bit.ly/3XuUKsv and the PBI Tag Specifications https://bit.ly/4bhZzIW.
EPA Unveils New Mitigation Website for Pesticide Applicators to Monitor
The EPA premiered the "Mitigation Menu" website https://bit.ly/3Vr7uh6 for Interim Ecological Mitigation (IEM) to reduce potential runoff impacts on listed species from agricultural uses of herbicides in the lower 48 states. EPA is proposing to use this ecological mitigation menu website as an extension of certain pesticide labels in order to provide more information for pesticide users with respect to runoff/erosion mitigation on FIFRA section 3 labels.
As new product labels are registered, some labels will include the link to the mitigation menu website as well as a "Runoff/Erosion Mitigation" section that will need to be reviewed. Anyone applying an agricultural herbicide will be required to review that label and, if necessary, review the website for mitigations. Once there, the applicator will need to review two excel spreadsheets to determine if their county lies in a high runoff vulnerability https://bit.ly/3VBXWzY or a reduced runoff https://bit.ly/3VSGUyQ. Review of USDA’s Web Soil Survey tool to determine soil texture, which is found here: https://bit.ly/4eu8lGH , may also be necessary. On the mitigation menu website, there will be a menu of mitigations to use in order to reduce runoff impacts.
NCC Submits Comments on Glufosinate-p
The NCC submitted comments at https://bit.ly/4bfO44X on the EPA proposed registration of glufosinate-p-ammonium, the new active ingredient contained in Liberty® ULTRA herbicide, powered by Glu-L Technology from BASF.
Comments Submitted on Draft Engenia Label
The NCC submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the draft BASF Engenia label. Although not yet reviewed and approved by the EPA for public posting, NCC Engenia comments were similar to prior submissions for Xtendimax. NCC expressed appreciation for the proposed Engenia post emergence use on soybeans, since many producers grow both cotton and soybeans and referenced the need for excellent weed control options, lack of competition among alternatives, and rising production costs as reasons for registering these over-the-top dicamba products. EPA will be accepting comments on the proposed BASF Engenia label until July 5, 2024. NCC encourages all interested segments of the cotton industry to file comments by the deadline.
Twelve U.S. cotton industry members were chosen to participate in the NCC's Emerging Leaders Program for 2024-25. Participants include: PRODUCERS – Clint Dunn, Itta Bena, MS; Lambert Marshall, Scott, AR; Greg Riccomini, Bakersfield, CA; Todd Rovey, Buckeye, AZ; Greg Sikes, Brooklet, GA; and Jack Whatley, Odem, TX; GINNERS – Nathan Goldman, Casa Grande, AZ; Daniel Luehrs, Odem, TX; MERCHANTS – Brett Edgy, Savannah, GA; Jacinta Condon, Greenville, SC; WAREHOUSER – Chris Moore, Southaven, MS, and MARKETING COOPERATIVE – Zach Flowers, Clarksdale, MS.
Supported by a grant to The Cotton Foundation from Bayer, the Emerging Leaders Program provides participants with a better understanding of how the NCC conducts its mission of ensuring the U.S. cotton industry can compete effectively and profitably in the raw cotton, oilseed and U.S.-manufactured product markets at home and abroad. Specifically, participants get an in-depth look at: 1) the U.S. cotton industry infrastructure and the issues affecting the industry’s economic well-being; 2) the U.S. political process; 3) the NCC’s programs, as well as its policy development and implementation process; 4) Cotton Council International’s activities aimed at developing and maintaining export markets for U.S. cotton, manufactured cotton products and cottonseed products; and 5) the role that Cotton Foundation members play in fostering a healthy U.S. cotton industry.
The Program, now in its ninth year, also provides participants with professional development and communications training such as presentation and business etiquette, instruction for engaging with the news media, and utilizing social media tools and tactics.
The first session in Memphis and St. Louis provided an orientation to the NCC, professional development and communication skills training and an agribusiness briefing. During the second session, class members will see policy development at the NCC’s 2025 Annual Meeting in February. The third session, to be conducted later in 2025 in Washington, DC, will provide a focus on policy implementation.
Export Sales for Week Ending June 13
Net export sales for the week ending June 13, 2024 were 202,800 bales (480-lb.). This brings total ‘23-24 sales to approximately 13.5 million. Total sales at the same point in the ‘22-23 marketing year were approximately 14.4 million bales. Total new crop (‘24-25) sales are 2.1 million bales (480-lb.). Shipments for the week were 209,800 bales, bringing total exports to date to 10.1 million bales, compared with the 10.9 million bales at the comparable point in the ‘22-23 marketing year.
With approximately two months remaining in the marketing year, weekly shipments must average roughly 247,600 bales to reach the USDA projection of 11.8 million bales.
Capital Calendar
The House was in recess.
June 17
The Senate convened.
Next Week
The Senate is in recess.
June 25
The House convenes.
June 26
The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee’s Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources Subcommittee will hold a field hearing, “Combating Drought with Innovation.” More information and a link to view the hearing are at https://bit.ly/3VuzUqN.
