Shawn Holladay, producer in Dawson County, PCG past president and current chair of the National Cotton Council, testifies on behalf of the U.S. cotton industry at the House Ag Committee Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management and Credit’s hearing, “Producer Perspectives on the 2023 Farm Bill.”

The House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management and Credit held a hearing Wednesday, April 26, 2023, to review producers’ needs for the upcoming Farm Bill.

Among the witnesses was Shawn Holladay, Dawson County producer, PCG past president and current chair of the National Cotton Council. 

In Holladay’s opening statement, he emphasized key priorities of the Farm Bill that would be beneficial to the U.S. cotton industry.

Seed cotton reference price

“Since 2018, cotton costs of production have increased by 20 cents per pound, based on average yields of 800 pounds per acre,” Holladay. “For many producers, total production costs now range between 90 cents and $1 per pound, which exceed current futures prices trading in the mid-80s.” When calculated based on seed cotton, the total costs to produce a pound of seed cotton have risen nearly 9 cents since the 2018 Farm Bill, with current costs of production at almost 48 cents.

This is far above the seed cotton reference price of 36.7 cents per pound. 

“The current reference prices were set in the 2014 Farm Bill using 2012 data, which is outdated,” said Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), subcommittee chair. “Even three years old would be too old at this point, given the increase in input prices.” 

When Scott asked for the break-even cotton lint price producers need in relation to the seed cotton reference price, Holladay answered: “To break even, a producer would need a 85 cent to 95 cent lint price depending on what all he put into his crop.” 

Multiple Representatives sitting on the subcommittee made mention of reference prices and the need to raise them to alleviate financial strain on producers.

Crop insurance

Currently, producers enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs are limited in their access to crop insurance, “due to a prohibition on the purchase of the Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX) on their enrolled farm,” Holladay said. “At the beginning of the prohibition, during the 2019 crop year, most growers chose to enroll their base acres in PLC. However, with higher cotton futures prices for the 2021 and 2022 crops, and limited effectiveness of the current seed cotton reference price, STAX has become a more attractive option. 

Holladay emphasized to the subcommittee that producers should be able to manage risk based on the needs of their operation. Eliminating the prohibition on simultaneous enrollment in PLC and STAX, as well as boosting the top coverage level of STAX for those farms with no seed cotton base — or who forego enrollment in ARC/PLC — would allow them to tailor their risk management options according to the needs of their operation. In turn, this will also decrease producers’ reliance on ad hoc programs, putting producers in charge of their own production risks. 

Cotton loan programs

Mr. Scott also asked Holladay about the effectiveness of raising loan rates. 

“We use the marketing loan frequently in cotton,” he responded. “Most of our cotton is exported, so we experience unique issues in terms of shipping, storage and marketing.” He went on to say that raising the loan rate would not be a large cost item to Congress, yet would have a significant impact on the amount of working capital producers can obtain when prices have dipped to break-even or lower.” 

Even in times of higher market prices, the marketing loan programs are utilized by the cotton industry to provide cash flow for producers and flexibility in marketing to encourage orderly movement of the crop throughout the year.

Despite higher production costs, the maximum level of the loan rate has remained at 52 cents since 2002. 

Holladay said the level of the loan rate should be increased to better reflect current costs of production and recent market prices. 

“In addition, loan repayment provisions should be modernized to better reflect the competitive landscape in the global market and the higher storage and logistics costs facing the industry,” he added. 

While the hearing was divided into two different segments totaling more than six hours of discussion, subcommittee members were eager to hear how they could better serve Rural America.

As House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn “GT “ Thompson (R-Pa.) stated in his opening remarks of the hearing, “To get the policy right, we need to hear directly from the voices in the countryside rather than the (Washington D.C.) Beltway.” 

PCG CEO Kody Bessent, PCG President Martin Stoerner, STCGA President Paul Freund, PCG Executive Committee Member Steve Olson, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), STCGA Board Member Jon Whatley, SRPCGA Board Member Doyle Schniers, STCGA Board Member Matt Huie, NCC Chair Shawn Holladay and STCGA Executive Director Jeff Nunley.

PCG joined South Texas Cotton and Grain Association (STCGA), Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association (SRPCGA) and the National Cotton Council (NCC) at the U.S. Capitol to advocate for a strong 2023 Farm Bill this week.

“It was an effective trip and one of many to come as the 2023 Farm Bill process is fully underway,” Bessent said. “We appreciate STCGA, SRPCGA and the NCC for their partnership on this trip and their efforts in emphasizing the need for strong farm policy for the cotton industry nationwide.” 

Developing a Better Farm Safety Net 

New Technology and Cotton Production 

By Shawn Wade

The USDA Farm Service Agency released the 2023-crop Upland Cotton Loan Premium and Discount tables on April 17. 

The new 2023 premium and discount schedule continues to reinforce the market’s emphasis on quality and should reward growers who produce higher quality cotton. The Base Loan rate for 2023 Upland cotton was also announced and remains 52 cents per pound.

The 2023 tables reverse virtually all the changes made in 2022 when premiums and discounts were lowered, especially for White grades 11-41 and Staple lengths 34 and longer. In these Color/Staple combinations the 2023 table adds additional premium for Leaf grades 1-4 and increases discounts for higher leaf measurements. 

Beyond the Color/Staple/Leaf tables, the 2023 loan chart maintains the maximum -4000 discount for Level One and Level Two Plastic contamination in the schedule for Extraneous Matter, highlighting the significant problem this situation presents to textile mills and spinners.

For Upland Cotton the 2023 Strength table also includes significant changes for the second time in the past three years. In 2021, growers saw discounts for Strength readings below 25.9 g/tex increased significantly. Those discount levels were mostly unchanged in 2022 but have been bumped up again for 2023 as follows:

• 17.9 g/tex and lower – Discount increased by 100 points.

• 18-18.9 g/tex and 19-19.9 g/tex – Discount increased by 130 points.

• 20-20.9 g/tex and 21-21.9 g/tex – Discount increased by 130 points.

• 22-22.9 g/tex and 23-23.9 g/tex – Discount increased by 120 points.

• 24-24.9 g/tex – Discount increased by 115 points. 

• 25-25.9 g/tex – Discount increased by 105 points. 

Premium and discount tables for other types of Extraneous Matter, Micronaire and Length Uniformity have mostly smaller 5 to 25-point adjustments in 2023. 

The most change in these categories is found in the Micronaire table where discounts for measurements from 3.4 down to 2.7 will have smaller discounts with improvements ranging from 15 to 25 points. The other notable change is for Micronaire between 2.5 and 2.6 where the discount was reduced by 55 points from -1415 to -1360.

Complete 2023 Loan Premium and Discount tables and loan charts with calculated values based on the 2023 schedule of premiums and discounts will be posted on the Resources page of the Plains Cotton Growers website. 

The table above provides comparisons between 2022 and 2023 loan values for White Grades 11-41 and Light Spot grades 12-42, Staple 34 through 38 and higher.

By Kody Bessent

South Texas Cotton and Grain Executive Director Jeff Nunley and PCG CEO Kody Bessent.

This week, Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. CEO Kody Bessent and South Texas Cotton and Grain Association Executive Director Jeff Nunley met with state lawmakers in Austin, Texas, to continue advocating for a one-time agriculture disaster relief grant for cotton infrastructure in the state budget.

In 2022, Texas suffered the most significant weather-related damage to crops of all U.S. states with over $6.4 billion in incurred losses — $2.9 billion in damages to cotton alone due to the prolonged drought conditions.

If adopted by the Texas Legislature, eligibility for the grant — subject to a rule — the following conditions are required:

• The purpose of the grant must be to maintain agricultural supply chain resiliency;
• The grant must be for land located on which losses occur in an area within a county identified by the United States Drought Monitor as having a D2 (Extreme Drought) for eight consecutive weeks or D3 (Exceptional Drought) during calendar year 2022; and
• The applicant must demonstrate a decline of at least 30% in gross receipts or gross revenue in calendar year 2022 compared to calendar year 2021.

Individual grants governed by this rider may not exceed $500,000.

This is a big initiative for the cotton industry, and if the agriculture disaster relief grant is adopted, it will go a long way toward maintaining the financial health and viability of the cotton industry until a more permanent risk management tool can be developed.

We are extremely grateful for Sen. Charles Perry (R-District 28) and Rep. Cecil Bell (R-District 3) for carrying this grant rider initiative on behalf of the cotton industry. As conferees have now been appointed this week by both the House and Senate, we look forward to working with them in the final stretches of the budget process to secure this critical funding initiative.

High Plains Planting Conditions Forecast

USDA Releases Report Showing the Use of Cotton by Consumers

Crop Progress — 2023 Cotton Season Underway

Drought Continues to Plague Texas, Preplant Rain Needed

Lone Star Leadership for Cotton

USDA Announces Grassland Conservation Reserve Program Signup for 2023

Easter Sunday brought rain (and hail) to Lubbock County and other parts of the Panhandle and Southern High Plains, breaking a 46-day dry streak as Lubbock and surrounding areas hadn’t seen rain since Nov. 26, 2022.

Unfortunately, the hail that came with the weather event was the final nail in the coffin for some of the area’s winter wheat crop. Many producers in the area had considered bringing a wheat crop to harvest due to attractive wheat prices when compared to cotton. However, drought and hail will cause most to bale it instead, according to PCG Director of Field Services Mark Brown. “Wheat hay is selling for $200 per ton, which boggles my mind, so a lot of it will be baled and I’ve also heard of some chopping it for wheatlage.” 

As far as rain in the 10-day forecast is concerned, Brown commented, “There’s not much of a chance, but there is a chance.” 

The U.S. Drought Monitor for the state of Texas April 13, 2023, indicates majority of PCG region still in heavy drought despite Easter Sunday rain.

The lack of demand tanking cotton prices combined with continued drought with little relief has many producers still undecided on planting intentions across the High Plains. Ken Legé, Ph.D., cotton development specialist for Phytogen, supported this statement estimating that seed bookings for all brands are two to three weeks behind the normal time frame for the coming crop year. 

While those south of Interstate 40 are limited in planting options, producers in the Panhandle may plant more sorghum and corn silage this coming season. Attractive silage contract prices from dairies will heavily compete with northern acres this year.

However dryland farmers along the southern high plains may look to plant sorghum as its insurance coverage is more favorable in many cases. “Growers are very reluctant to commit to cotton for dryland acres,” Legé added. “While we suspect most of them will go to cotton, it will be more of a last-minute decision.”

While we all sit on the edge of our seats waiting ultimate decisions from producers, many industry veterans are experiencing déjà vu. 

“We don’t give up because we’ve seen this exact scenario many times,” said Brent Nelson, PCG chairman and producer in Lamb County. “I’ve seen it turn around and I’ve also seen promising crop years turn out bad, so I guess I would say, ‘stay tuned.’”

Cotton prices have been stuck in the 81- to 84-cent range over the last few weeks and seem content there. Expectation of that changing is hard to predict today.

“This is just my opinion,” said Darren Newton, Southwest Cotton Buyer for Viterra USA Agriculture, LLC. “It could take some time to get deeper into planting, new crop supply and the situation in West Texas to play out before the price may respond.” 

In terms of exports, 144,000 units sold this week, which is not as good as prior weeks but still a decent amount sold for this time of year, according to Newton. 

“We shipped 335,000 units, which was a great shipment, and that needs to continue as we finish off the crop year over the next 15 to 16 weeks,” he added. 

Overall, Newton said basis today for old crop has weakened with the May/July spread moving to even and inverting this week. Currently new crop basis seems to be bid about like last year and will move from that based on each regions crop size and quality expectations. “The market today seems pretty consistent to what we saw last year,” he added.  

Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), chair of the House Budget Committee, joined the spring meeting for American Cotton Producers (ACP) in Dallas on April 13 and 14.

Pictured: National Cotton Council Chair Shawn Holladay (and PCG board member), Rep. Arrington and ACP chair Nathan Reed, producer in Arkansas.

There he discussed reducing the national debt, while also building a strong, robust farm bill and supporting agriculture as the food and fiber segments are issues of national security. 

Provide Feedback on PCG Annual Meeting

Sen. Boozman Stresses the Importance of Farm Bill Listening Sessions

A major 7.8 magnitude earthquake, followed by another strong quake devastated wide swaths of Turkey, devastating the center of the country’s textile production industry. Photo credit: Associated Press.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) released reports on India, Pakistan, Turkey and Vietnam through the Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) March 31 and April 4. 

India

FAS Mumbai estimates marketing year (MY) 2023/24 India cotton production at 25.5 million 480 lb. bales on 12.4 million hectares area planted, a decrease from the previous year due to the expectation that farmers will shift cotton acreage to higher return crops such as oilseeds and pulses. However, yields are expected to recover as farmers will plant shorter duration early maturation varieties. Mill consumption is estimated at 23.5 million 480 lb. bales, as yarn and textile demand weakens in major international markets. Higher exportable supplies, at 2.8 million 480 lb. bales, indicates that export prospects are better than last year, while imports will reduce significantly due to tighter global supplies. The Government of India continues to explore various approaches to enhance yield of extra-long staple (ELS) cotton and reduce import dependence.

Pakistan

Cotton production is forecast to rebound 36% to 5.3 million bales in 2023/24. After the flood damaged 2022/23 crop, yields should return to trend, while better returns from competing crops will limit area expansion. Following the sharp decline in cotton use and textile exports in 2022/23, a modest rebound in both is forecast for 2023/24. However, the increased domestic crop will limit expansion in cotton imports. Despite the many economic challenges facing the textile sector, cotton imports through the first seven months of 2023/24 were up about 7% compared to the previous year. As a result, the 2022/23 import and use estimates are increased. Lack of foreign exchange to import raw material and machinery, currency fluctuation, and rising energy prices will continue to constrain the textile sector’s growth through 2024.

Turkey

The February 6, 2023 earthquakes greatly affected Kahramanmaras, the center of Turkey’s cotton yarn and textile production, but the industry is already on the road to recovery. Turkey’s cotton production in marketing year (MY) 2023/24 is forecast to decrease to 735,000 metric tons (MT; 3.4 million bales) based on the assumption that farmers will choose to plant less cotton in response to decreasing cotton prices. Cotton farmers were unable to make adequate profits in MY 2022/23 to cover rising input costs. In MY 2023/24, Turkish cotton consumption is expected to decrease to 1.7 million MT (7.8 million bales) due to lower demand from end consumers of ready-to-wear-garments in western markets. Cotton imports in MY 2023/24 are forecast to be 900,000 MT (4.13 million bales) for the same period with the U.S. maintaining its market share as the leading supplier with strong competition from Brazil.

Vietnam

Post estimates that Vietnam cotton imports in marketing year 2022/23 (MY 22/23) will decrease at least 5% year on year to nearly 6.3 million bales due to ongoing global low demand for textile and apparel products. U.S. cotton exports to Vietnam significantly dropped in the first half of MY 22/23 and are forecast to plunge to their lowest levels since 2015 due to available and competitively-priced supplies from Australia and Brazil. Australia cotton exports to Vietnam gained a larger market share in the first half of MY 22/23 and continue to grow due to availability, good quality, competitive prices and proximity to Vietnam. Post forecasts Vietnam cotton imports for MY 23/24 will rebound at 5% year on year to 6.6 million bales or over 1.4 million metric tons based on the expectation that demand for cotton yarn will recover by the final months of 2023.

John Rosman, senior divisional director of JCPenney Purchasing LLC Sourcing Operations is a 24-year retail veteran. He has extensive experience in merchandising, private brand sourcing and international operations.

Rosman started his career with Foley’s Department store, a division of May Company, based in Houston, Texas.

He has served 22 years with JCPenney in various roles. His current key responsibilities include responsible sourcing, sustainability, product integrity, trade compliance, analytics and international operations.

April’s Plains Cotton Advisory Group meeting is scheduled for April 14, 2023, at the Plains Cotton Growers office starting at 7:30 a.m. If you’d like to attend virtually, please contact Kara Bishop.

Conservation Reserve Program Sign-up Dates

General sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) began February 27 and ends April 7.

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol 

March 31, 2023 (today!), is the deadline for U.S. cotton producers to enroll their 2023 crop in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.

PCG Annual Meeting Feedback Survey

We value your feedback! Please let us know your thoughts on our 66th annual meeting by taking the survey.

While U.S. Farm Report Host Tyne Morgan was in Lubbock for the Plains Cotton Growers Inc. Annual Meeting, she visited with local producers about the ongoing weather challenges and how this might impact their personal planting intentions. And, of course, the 14-hour dirt storm on February 26 was part of the conversation.

“I’ve lived here my entire life,” said Travis Mires, PCG vice president and producer in Lynn County. “And that storm was one of the worst I’ve seen.” 

PCG President Martin Stoerner added that we did have wheat on the ground, which did help some. “We were fortunate to benefit from cover crops in the area; however, the chances of harvesting a dryland wheat crop is now fading by the day.” 

With less than half an inch of rain received on parts of the High Plains all winter, producers face some uncertainty going into the 2023 crop year.

“This is as late in the year as I’ve ever been undecided on what I’m going to plant,” Stoerner added. Watch the story here. (High Plains section begins at the 20:30 mark.)

Exploring Potential Human Health Benefits of Cottonseed Oil

2023 Input Challenges 

Plains Cotton Growers Inc. held its 66th annual meeting at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center on March 28, 2023.

While adversity has had the cotton industry in a chokehold over the past 15 months, the industry’s people continue to prove their grit and resiliency. 

As PCG President Martin Stoerner, producer in Floyd County, mentioned in his speech, “We pivot as farmers, pardon the pun. When something doesn’t work or if something happens outside our control, we pivot and keep going.”

Close to 300 people comprised of producers, extension agents, national cotton organizations, industry representatives and Congressional staff members gathered to hear stories and data from Tyne Morgan, Mark Messura and John Kriesel. 

“West Texas is special,” Tyne began in her agriculture industry outlook. “And not just because my husband is from Plainview.” 

Morgan, host of the U.S. Farm Report, covered commodity planting intentions, weather, markets, policy and more, as she summed up the state of the ag industry on a national and regional scale. However, she ended on a surprising note. 

“That notion we have that farmers aren’t appreciated is not true. While attending a John Deere trade show event, I noticed that the farmers were treated as celebrities. Everyone wanted to talk to them and get their insight. It was incredible.” 

And in terms of all-electric tractors? Morgan visited with John Deere Chief Technology Officer Jahmy Hindman while at this event who stated, “I talked about the 8R tractors. When I ran the numbers on it, if you power that with a lithium-ion battery today, it’s twice the volume, twice the weight, twice the mass, and four times the cost. That just doesn’t pencil.”

Mark Messura, senior vice president of the Global Marketing Supply Division of Cotton Incorporated, discussed the efforts to market cotton worldwide. “Cotton is the natural fiber, but not a natural choice when it comes to purchasing decisions,” he added. He emphasized the need to shift consumer perception when it comes to cotton as it is the most sustainable choice in the marketplace today. 

John Kriesel a retired Army staff sergeant, who fought in Kosovo and Iraq brought us a powerful message on the choices we make when faced with adversity. Kriesel lost both of his legs and two of his closest friends when his Humvee triggered an improvised explosive device (IED). 

“I know that you guys have faced many challenges this past year with the drought and face a lot of uncertainty in this coming crop year,” he said. “But you can still make a choice to have a positive attitude. I tell my story and I look out among you and see a lot of serious faces. Don’t pity me. I am so much happier with my life now after the IED incident than I was before — because I got a second chance at life. I appreciate you and what you do for our nation. Make the choice to see the bright side as you continue to do what you do.”

The farm partnership panel featuring Mark and Bryce Howard from Dallam County and Travis and Landon Mires from Lynn County focused on several issues and ended with a discussion of the future. 

“People are the most critical component of the operation to me,” said Bryce Howard. “They are also the biggest issue I see in the future. I’m focused on fostering a healthy culture for the people in our organization.” 

He’s not alone in that. The people are unmatched in every facet of the cotton industry. The fellowship and gathering of likeminded men and women was good for the soul as we prepare for crop year 2023.

And while we focused on weed control, sustainability, markets and hedging, farm bill policy, future concerns, etc., we also visited, laughed, and caught up with friends we hadn’t seen in a while.

The day we had together is best summed up by Steve Olson, producer in Hale County, who stated during the farm practices panel at the end of the day, “There is nothing better than this way of life we lead.” 

Thank you to all who came and celebrated the Texas High Plains cotton industry with us and to our sponsors who made the entire event possible. 

The El Nino weather pattern could boost yields in the second half of the year for U.S. cotton farmers, who were forced to abandon a big chunk of their cropland in 2022 after one of the worst droughts in years.

While El Nino typically brings dry weather to Asia, with impacts already being felt in Australia, Indonesia and India, it is known for wet weather in parts of North and South America.

The National Weather Service has forecast a more than 50% chance of El Nino forming during the northern summer of 2023.

“If we move into an El Nino pattern, we would see more rainfall in the U.S. and this would mean higher production, higher yields and less abandonment this year,” said Bailey Thomen, cotton risk management associate at StoneX Group.

Last year, more than three-quarters of Texas, which accounts for about 40% of U.S. cotton output, suffered from one of the worst droughts in years.

As a result, U.S. farmers were forced to abandon a record amount of their land, with the resultant supply shortfall driving prices to an 11-year peak in May.

“Last year, Texas had almost 70% abandonment due to drought,” the Texas Farm Bureau said.

However, too much rainfall may prove to be a spoilsport, leading to yield losses and quality downgrades.

“The most crucial part will be when the rains arrive. It will be great if they arrive by April-May,” Kansas-based commodity analyst Sid Love said.

Expectations of higher U.S. cotton output come at a time of weakening global demand for the fiber.

Demand concerns have prompted about 6% decline in U.S. cotton futures CTc1, CTc2 this year, and prices hit a 20-week low this week amid the ongoing banking sector crisis. COT/N

The USDA lowered its 2022/23 world cotton consumption estimates to 110.11 million bales in March, from 110.66 million bales forecast a month ago.

The market will be highly dependent on what happens with the global economy, said Matthew Looney, data scientist at International Cotton Advisory Committee, predicting consumption would remain low into the 2023/24 season.

“China’s recovery is a positive sign while the ongoing banking crisis poses economic risks which could weigh on demand,” said Jim Nunn, owner of Tennessee-based cotton brokerage Nunn Cotton.

U.S. Cotton Production Affected by Drought https://tmsnrt.rs/3JEqMcW

(Reporting by Ashitha Shivaprasad and Rahul Paswan in Bengaluru; Editing by Naveen Thukral)

This report from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service contains the results from the March Agricultural Survey which was conducted during the first two weeks of March 2023. The estimates provided in this report are intended to reflect grower intentions as of the survey period. New acreage estimates will be made based on surveys conducted in June when crop acreages have been established or planting intentions are firm.

Texas Upland cotton is expected to total 6.20 million acres, down 21 percent from last year. Planting of Pima cotton is expected to total 35 thousand acres, 6 percent above 2022. Growers intend to plant 2.05 million acres of corn, down 5 percent from last year. Producers intend to plant 1.45 million acres of sorghum this year, unchanged from last year.

Conservation Reserve Program Sign-up Dates

General sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) began February 27 and ends April 7.

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol 

March 31, 2023 (today!), is the deadline for U.S. cotton producers to enroll their 2023 crop in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.

PCG Annual Meeting Feedback Survey

We value your feedback! Please let us know your thoughts on our 66th annual meeting by taking the survey.

Five Cotton Questions for the Next Farm Bill

Cotton Acres Could Crumble This Year

“In 2011 when the drought was so bad, the gin I am with now produced 48,000 bales. In 2022, we ginned 16,000.” – Todd Straley, Quarterway Cotton Growers

As referenced in previous issues of this newsletter, the 2022-crop is one for the record books — and not one that will soon be forgotten.

“Cotton production has been decimated by drought and extreme heat this year, costing Texas High Plains farmers and other agricultural industries at least $2 billion, according to one estimate,” Jayme Lozano wrote for the Texas Tribune in August of last year. 

Producers in the High Plains region abandoned more than 72% of planted acres due to the persistent drought and utter lack of subsoil moisture. While that’s not something anyone wants to go through, the weather is one of those facets outside a grower’s control. Thankfully, risk management tools through the Farm Bill, in addition to recently administered disaster assistance through “ad hoc” programming, have kept producers afloat especially in a year like 2022 where Mother Nature simply didn’t want to cooperate during the growing season. 

Unfortunately, other segments of the cotton industry don’t have the same risk management tools in place to weather the kind of loss that was experienced in the 2022 cropping season.

According to an August 2022 study from the Texas Tech University International Center for Agricultural Competitiveness, and source of the estimate given above, cotton gins in the PCG service region were projected to lose more than $230 million in working capital. 

In an effort to relieve some of the financial strain and distress of 2022 on the cotton industry, more specifically cotton infrastructure, Plains Cotton Growers made an initial attempt to secure federal disaster assistance for cotton infrastructure in the FY2022-2023 spending package. 

“In a year like 2022, when cotton production volume is extraordinarily low, it negatively impacts every segment of the cotton industry,” said Kody Bessent PCG CEO. “In order to maintain our supply chain resiliency across all cotton segments, we’d like to see our infrastructure colleagues provided with some funding assistance to keep their doors open in 2023, assuming they suffered a loss in 2022.” 

Unfortunately, the federal attempt was thwarted last minute, so PCG pivoted with our best foot forward and brought it to the state Capitol’s attention at the beginning of the 88th Texas Legislature.

The severity of the drought of 2022 on the Texas cotton industry —  specifically cotton infrastructure — due to a lack of production or throughput, has had and will have a long-term effect on not only producers but infrastructure as a whole. 

According to recent analysis by the American Farm Bureau, Texas suffered the most significant weather-related damage to crops of all U.S. states with over $6.4 billion in incurred losses. These losses were primarily made up of $2.9 billion in damages to cotton in 2022 mainly attributed to widespread exceptional drought conditions. 

Furthermore, according to USDA 2022 crop acreage certification data (578 data), Texas planted 7,722,964 acres of cotton in 2022, and failed or did not take to harvest 3,775,591 of those acres — creating an abandonment rate of 49.7%. Compare that to the High Plains region (where on average 60% of all cotton is grown in Texas) experiencing a 72.3% acreage abandonment rate in 2022 — surpassing 2011 failed acreage, the former benchmark for historic drought. 

A budget rider is currently being advocated for in the Texas Senate and House that would establish a one-time block grant program for cotton infrastructure to help ease some of the strain from financial losses credited to the 2022 crop year. 

Assuming this initiative comes to fruition, an entity in the cotton infrastructure segment — located in a county identified by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a D2 (Extreme Drought) for eight consecutive weeks or D3 (Exceptional Drought) during calendar year 2022 — that experienced a 30% loss or greater in revenue from 2021 to 2022, could receive up to $500,000 in agriculture disaster relief to put toward fixed costs. 

We all need each other in this industry and the 2022-crop year definitely highlights that. PCG will continue to strive to make headway through Congress and our state Legislature to support cotton producers as well as our infrastructure segments during these challenging times. If you have any questions or would like to know how you can support this effort, please call the office: 806-792-4904.

The Plains Cotton Improvement Committee (PCIP) met Thursday, March 23, 2023, to discuss research results in 2022 and plans for 2023. Researchers presented on pest management, plant diseases, variety trials, and more, as they discussed plans for research in the future. 

The committee heard the following presentations:

• Dr. Megha Parajulee, Texas AgriLife Research – “Insect Pest Management in Texas High Plains Cotton.”
  • “I’m excited about this program’s commitment to the research,” said Megha Parajulee, Ph.D. “Every year, more people attend this meeting and it’s great to see everyone eager to participate in this work.” 
• Dr. Jane Dever, Texas AgriLife Extension – “High Plains Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation (RACE) Trials.”
  • Dever presented the Southern High Plains RACE Trials results for the High Plains cotton specialist position, which is currently in the process of being filled following the recent departure of Dr. Murilo Maeda.
• Dr. Jourdan Bell, Texas AgriLife Extension – “Northern High Plains Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation (RACE) Trials.”
  • As extension agronomist Jourdan Bell, Ph.D., discussed research in the northern Panhandle, PCIP Chair Barry Evans stated, “The area north of Interstate 40 has become very important. I’m not sure people realize how much cotton is up there. There is more cotton in that region than in the entire state of Tennessee.” 
• Dr. John Wanjura, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service – “Enhancement of Post-Harvest Research on High Plains Cotton Varieties.”
• Dr. Brendan Kelly, Texas Tech University Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute – “Textile Performance Evaluation of Selected High Plains Cotton Varieties.”
• Dr. Jane Dever and Dr. Carol Kelly, Texas Agriculture Extension Service – “Development of Improved Cotton Germplasm for the High Plains Production Area of Texas.”
• Dr. Terry Wheeler, Texas AgriLife Research – “A Field Screening Program for Resistance to Bacterial Blight.”
• Dr. Terry Wheeler, Texas AgriLife Research – “Reassessing Cotton Variety Resistance to Fusarium Wilt Disease.”
  • Dr. Wheeler presented this research for the position in process of being filled following the recent departure of Dr. Cecilia Monclova Santana.

For more information, visit the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center – Lubbock website.

Tyne Morgan, host of the U.S. Farm report will be presenting an agriculture industry outlook at the Plains Cotton Growers Inc. 66th annual meeting.

Morgan is doing what she calls her “dream job.” She’s a Missouri girl who has generations of agriculture rooted in her blood. Through public speaking and various contest teams, she actually plunged into broadcast at the young age of 16, working for the local radio station KMZU in Carrollton, Missouri.

Tyne attended the University of Missouri-Columbia where she majored in Agricultural Journalism, with an emphasis in broadcast, graduating in 2008.

After spending numerous hours on the road as AgDay and U.S. Farm Report National Reporter, in 2014, Tyne was named the first female Host of U.S. Farm Report. She’s only the fourth host of the show, following Orion Samuelson, Max Armstrong and John Phipps. Today, Tyne continues to take a deep dive into the news and issues farmers are facing today, while also sharing stories from across rural America. She’s an award-winning agricultural journalist, receiving NAFB’s prestigious Doan Award twice, most recently in 2022.

More important than any title she holds today, is her title of “Mom.”  Tyne and her husband James (from Plainview, Texas) are raising their two daughters in Orrick, Missouri, where they’re reminded daily the power and grit of a rural community as they volunteer with several organizations and work to give back.

“I admire so much about farmers and ranchers in the Texas High Plans, but what I admire most is the grit and tenacity they show each and every year,” Morgan said. “This past year that was on full display, and it’s an honor to join PCG for the annual meeting. We’ll dig into the news and issues that matter most to cotton farmers in the area, but I’ll also share stories from across the country that showcase the best of agriculture and rural America.”

The annual meeting is March 28, at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center in Lubbock, Texas. Registration for this free event and a buffet breakfast begin at 7:30 a.m. The program starts at 9 a.m. See you next week in Lubbock!

Conservation Reserve Program Sign-up Dates

General sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) began February 27 and ends April 7.

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol 

March 31, 2023, is the deadline for U.S. cotton producers to enroll their 2023 crop in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.

PCG Annual Meeting

PCG’s 66th annual meeting is next week, March 28 at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center. Register online today! 

If Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was writing his incredibly popular book, “The Power of Positive Thinking,” today he would need to add a separate chapter on John Kriesel.

In 2006 Kriesel was nearly blown to shreds by a 200-pound roadside bomb in the parched sands of Iraq, but battlefield angels in army uniforms kept him breathing long enough to reach a field hospital. He died three times and was shocked back to life. Somehow he survived through four hospitals, 35 surgeries and months of recovery. He lost both legs and suffered numerous other major injuries, but it was the loss of two close friends that hurt the most.

The guy who wasn’t supposed to survive and was told he probably would be in a wheelchair the rest of his life walked out of Walter Reed Army Medical Center after nine months. Working with author Jim Kosmo, Kriesel reveals his motivational story in “STILL STANDING: The Story of SSG John Kriesel,” winner of eight national book awards.

Four years after his near-death experience in Iraq Kriesel became a civilian marketing employee with the Minnesota Army National Guard and in 2012 was named Director of Veterans Services for Anoka County. He also is a part time host on KFAN Sports Radio and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He was elected to the House in 2010 after a vigorous campaign where he was told he could not win in his district. He personally visited several thousand homes in all weather conditions and literally wore out the socket in one of his prosthetic legs. He won.

After tours of duty in Kosovo and Iraq and a lengthy medical recovery Kriesel’s family wanted to spend more time with him and he chose not to run for re-election in 2012.

As a legislator he was anything but a quiet freshman challenging even his own party and frequently speaking his mind. “Kriesel’s honesty is a breath of fresh air at the Capitol,” declared the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. In addition to serving veterans in the Twin Cities and being a frequent voice on KFAN’s Power Trip Morning Show, he continues to share his upbeat, motivational message with businesses and organizations throughout the United States. 

Using humorous storytelling, Kriesel addresses the choices we can make when facing adversity. We are excited to have him as the keynote speaker for this year’s annual meeting. 

The 66th annual meeting of Plains Cotton Growers is March 28, 2023, at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center. 

Walk-in registration and a buffet breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. followed by the annual meeting program at 9 a.m. Afternoon workshops on cotton marketing and hedging, weed control, sustainability and the upcoming Farm Bill will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For questions or more information, you may call the office at 806-792-4904 or visit our website: plainscotton.org. 

House Ag Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson, (R-Pa.) hosted a farm bill listening session in Waco, Texas, Wednesday, March 15.

Shawn Holladay, chair of the National Cotton Council and past president of Plains Cotton Growers Inc., addresses the House Ag Committee at the Farm Bill Listening Session in Waco, Texas, March 15, 2023. Photo credit: Texas Farm Bureau.

He, along with bipartisan Members of the committee — Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Rep. Austin Scott, (R-Ga.), Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), Rep. Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (R-Texas) — listened to farmers, ranchers, producers, agribusiness owners, etc., as they provided feedback on the 2018 Farm Bill and highlighted issues the 2023 Farm Bill should address.

Shawn Holladay, chair of the National Cotton Council and past president of Plains Cotton Growers was one of the attendees who gave comments.

“The 2018 Farm Bill has served the industry well,” he stated to the committee. “However, the significant increase in input costs and disruptions in the global cotton market is undermining the effectiveness of the cotton safety net. Since the finalization of the 2018 Farm Bill, a majority of producer assistance has come through ad hoc funding from Congress. While this has been valuable due to untimely disasters, trade disputes and demand disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 Farm Bill should shore up the grower safety net and risk management tools…”

Conservation Reserve Program Sign-up Dates

General sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) will begin February 27 and end April 7.

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol 

March 31, 2023, is the deadline for U.S. cotton producers to enroll their 2023 crop in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.

PCG Annual Meeting

PCG’s 66th annual meeting is on March 28 at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center. Register online today! 

Plains Cotton Growers Inc. is among 400 farm and industry groups that signed onto a letter shared with congressional leadership on agriculture’s budgetary needs in the 2023 Farm Bill. That letter, sent to the chairmen and ranking members of both the House and Senate Budget Committees, is a strong example of “united, we stand,” a phrase popular amongst the country’s founding fathers. 

Signees are hopeful modern leaders in the nation’s capital understand the value of agriculture and will take their needs into consideration when developing the fiscal year 2024 budget. 

“We write to express our strong support for providing (…) sufficient budgetary resources to write a new bipartisan, multi-year, comprehensive, and meaningful piece of legislation,” the groups convey in the letter, continuing, “Just as there are many pressures on the federal budget, there are many pressures on U.S. farmers and others throughout the agricultural supply chain who provide food, feed, fuel, fiber, and other products to consumers across the United States and abroad.” 

Cotton Prices Remain Neutral Despite New Information

New Role at Cotton Incorporated in Anticipation of CEO Succession

The Texas cotton industry convened at the state Capitol for Cotton Day on March 7, 2023, to educate Senate and House members and staff on the importance of Texas’ No. 1 cash commodity crop.

Plains Cotton Growers representatives who attended the proceedings were PCG Chairman Brent Nelson, PCG President Martin Stoerner, PCG Board Member Todd Straley and PCG CEO Kody Bessent.  Many Texas cotton industry segments, groups and councils were in attendance, handing out cotton towels to members and staffers with information pertaining to the industry.

In addition, the PCG team met with members to emphasize the need for cotton infrastructure assistance for the 2022 crop year; cotton, wool and mohair research funding; and maintaining funding for the Boll Weevil Eradication Program.

“Back in 2011 when we thought the drought was so bad, my gin produced 47,000 bales,” Todd Straley told Rep. John Smithee (R-District 86). “This last year, we ginned 16,000.”

Sen. Charles Perry (R-District 28) introduced Senate Resolution 268 on the Senate floor, recognizing the great cotton industry in the state of Texas.

“Agriculture is the spirit of West Texas and the spirit of this nation…we want to recognize this industry for what it does for Texas and recognize this day as Cotton Day.”

Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-District 128) is the Texas House Agriculture Committee Chair for the 88^th Legislature. The legislative session started January 10th and runs through May 29th.

Cain earned his doctorate of jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law and owns and operates the Law Office of Briscoe Cain, PLLC.

While presenting at the Texas Agriculture Council meeting in Austin, Texas, on March 8th, Cain mentioned he was on his second read-through of the Texas Agriculture Code and that he would, “do everything I can to get the government off of your backs so you can thrive.”

While out of session, Cain resides in Deer Park, Texas, with his wife, Bergundi and their five children.

“We appreciate Chairman Cain’s support of our industry, and we look forward to working with him this legislative session,” said Kody Bessent, PCG CEO.

Rehman Naseem, CEO and owner of Fazal Cloth Mills, Ltd. In Multan, Pakistan, presented to the Plains Cotton Advisory Group on March 10, 2023.

Based on his presentation, the challenges facing the textile mill industry include the following:

Supply Disruptions Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Not only was the supply chain broken as complications arose from the global pandemic, but demand skyrocketed. “Certain countries weren’t able to supply the demand,” he said. “Plus shipping of product from destination to the source was disrupted. Retailers were finding it hard to predict when a particular order would arrive so they were ordering more quantity than required due to the level of uncertainty in receiving the goods.” Naseem added that Pakistan was one of the countries that opened earlier than others so its production facilities were able to cash in on this demand. “Cotton consumption in Pakistan shot up to 16 million bales February 1, 2021.”

Inflation

Naseem stated the investment in the textile chain in Pakistan increased in 2021, as everyone expected the demand to remain constant or even increase going forward. Across the industry, from spinning, weaving, production, etc., there was investment in all segments. Unfortunately, inflation caused a different situation in 2022. “The central banks in most countries started raising interest rates and retailers were fearful of a recession and lack of demand as a result, so the focus transitioned to cutting down on inventory.” The second half of 2022, Naseem saw a reduction of capacity by 50% in his mill. China’s retail demand remained very low with their strict COVID policies; though, recently they have started to enter the marketplace. Naseem said his mill is now operating at 70% capacity — Pakistan needs to consume 16 million bales to be at full capacity. Right now, they are expected to consume 12 million bales this year.

Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

Naseem stated this act enforced by the U.S. — along with other countries who imposed their own restrictions on importing goods from cotton grown in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China — has had a negative effect on the textile mill industry as a whole. The restriction policies have put pressure on Chinese cotton prices. For the first time in many years, we are seeing the Chinese cotton price premium for new York futures reduced sharply, trading almost even with New York. Today, it’s trading at 14 to 15 cents above New York, when traditionally — over the last four to five years — China’s cotton price premium has been 25 cents over New York.

“This has a negative impact on our industry because Chinese mills are able to procure cotton at cheaper prices and are exporting yarn at a very cheap price,” Naseem added. “While the U.S. and some parts of Europe are banning Xinjiang cotton, other destinations like South America and Southeast Asia are not. So, a lot of demand has shifted to these cheaper yarns coming out of China. It’s hard for us to compete at this price level, and, once yarn is available at a certain price, the market adjusts to that price, so it’s difficult to ask for a premium.”

Naseem went on to say that he believes this price pressure is one of the main reasons cotton prices remain under pressure. “I expect this will be a critical challenge we will face for another six months until the issue is resolved somehow.”

Naseem’s annual mill use is roughly 450,000 bales per year. He said that Pakistan mills are well covered for the second quarter of the year, but they will need to buy additional cotton in the next six months to get back to 100% capacity. If this happens, he says Pakistan mills will need around three million bales.

The new cotton crop in Pakistan will arrive in August. Naseem acknowledged the tough crop year Pakistan had in 2022 with severe flooding and weather events — ending up with 5 million bales rather than the expected 10 million-plus. “Even during normal production years, Pakistan still imports a net of five to seven million bales per year,” he added. “Almost 20% of all cotton imported is from the U.S.”

ARC/PLC Decisions

ARC/PLC decisions must be reported to your local FSA office by March 15.

Conservation Reserve Program Sign-up Dates

General sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) will begin February 27 and end April 7.

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol 

March 31, 2023, is the deadline for U.S. cotton producers to enroll their 2023 crop in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.

PCG Annual Meeting

PCG’s 66th annual meeting is on March 28 at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center. Register online today! 

The House Committee on Agriculture convened a business meeting March 9, 2023, to consider its budget views and estimates letter for the 2024 fiscal year. After the letter was reported favorably out of committee, Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.) issued the following statement:

“The Committee’s budget views and estimates letter outlines a clear, bipartisan blueprint to invest in the hardworking men and women of American agriculture — the folks who work 365 days a year to feed and fuel our nation. While additional funds are necessary, there is no piece of legislation that provides a better return on investment than the Farm Bill. In the wake of record inflation, a global pandemic, and geopolitical turmoil, American farmers, ranchers, foresters, producers and consumers are suffering. The best way to support them is to pass an effective, bipartisan and timely Farm Bill, and the letter considered today provides a sensible path forward.”

Letter Highlights

• Return on Investment — “…in return for this modest investment…more than 43 million jobs, $2.3 trillion in wages, $718 billion in tax revenue, $183 billion in exports, and $7.4 trillion in economic activity.”
• Farm Debt — “[in 2021]…U.S. farm sector debt climbed above the previous record set in 1980 and has since continued to climb, underscoring the need for a strong farm bill.”
• Protecting the Farm Safety Net — “…Over the last 20 years, the farm safety net has repeatedly been looked to for deficit reduction…Congress has returned to the cycle of providing unbudgeted ad hoc assistance for both weather and market related disasters, totaling $93.3 billion over six years…more than 70% of federal funding for agriculture…Despite this infusion of assistance, the farm financial picture is beginning to erode due to repeated production losses and skyrocketing inflation.”

The letter, which outlines the financial challenges and needs of American agriculture, can be found here.

USDA WASDE Report – March 2023

Healthier Frying … with Cottonseed Oil

Things to Know About Inflation and the Consumer

The first House Agriculture Committee hearing of the 118th Congress took place Tuesday, February 28, focusing on uncertainty, inflation and regulations that present challenges to the U.S. agriculture industry. 

Rep. GT Thompson (R-Pa.), committee chair, opened the hearing stating legislators cannot write an impactful farm bill addressing the needs of those who grow, process and consume the food, fuel and fiber of this country without a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s challenges. 

“Our nation’s farmers, ranchers and foresters are exceptional, having increased food and fiber production nearly threefold since the 1940s,” added Thompson. “They’ve done so with no relative increase in inputs, serving as shining stars of sustainability and conservation practices. However, the uncertainty caused by a global pandemic, geopolitical unrest and government intrusion have led to a modest production decline in recent years.”

Thompson outlined his goal for the committee as providing necessary tools for farmers and ranchers to ease the barriers to production to prevent this decline from escalating. He identified the barriers as the following:

• Labor
• Fuel (average cost of diesel fuel per gallon increased 95% in 2021)
• Fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium increased 125% in 2021 and an additional 30% in the first five months of 2022 alone)
• Inflation (natural gas price increased 53% in 2021)
• Interest Rates

The one positive, Thompson added, was Americans’ heightened awareness of the importance of a reliable domestic food supply and the producers who provide it. “It’s the only silver lining.” 

He closed his opening statement by challenging committee members to “retire our dress shoes and put on our work boots. We have a lot of work to do.” 

The Challenges:
The first witness called for the first hearing of the 118th Congress was Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. 

Duvall stressed that strong farm policy is part of a national security strategy. “The country that cannot feed itself is not secure.” 

The challenges listed by Duvall during his statement include the following:

• Losses experienced in the trade war with China
• Pandemic lockdowns
• Supply chain disruptions
• Record-high supply costs
• Unprecedented volatility that farmers and ranchers have faced in recent years.
• Short- and long-term interest rates are rising double and triple what they were a year ago.

Duvall went on to reference the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s forecast report of farm sector income. According to the report, net farm income for 2023 is projected to decrease by 15.9% — adjusted for inflation makes it 18%. However, the same report estimates that farm and ranch production expenses will increase by $18 billion, following a record increase of $70 billion in 2022. 

“Some of us remember the high interest rates caused by inflation combined with the federal response leading to a farm debt crisis in the 1980s,” he added. Duvall emphasized the need to make sure history didn’t repeat itself. 

While there are many challenges, there are also opportunities, Duvall noted, referencing our incredible advances in sustainability. However, government regulation is stifling the opportunity with the new Waters of the U.S. ruling, Endangered Species Act, access to important crop protection tools, immigration and labor regulations, etc. Not to mention the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s desire to impose new climate regulations, which Duvall says “are meant for Wall Street.” 

The hearing was more than five hours long, as six witnesses presented and every committee member was given an opportunity to ask them questions. “We appreciate everyone’s endurance, and, quite frankly, the ag industry and meeting the needs of every American family is well worth our endurance,” Thompson said in his closing remarks. 

Easing burdensome regulations off the backs of farmers will only allow them to prosper in their innovative efforts to do more with less. As Duvall stated, they already have uncertainty in the weather. Strong farm policy to further ease the measures outside of a farmer’s control allows everyone to do their part in securing the future of the nation. 

The full hearing can be viewed here.

Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.), will host a Farm Bill listening session in Waco, Texas, on March 15th at 2 p.m.

Mr. Thompson will be joined by Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17) , Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), along with bipartisan Members of the House Committee on Agriculture. 

The event will bring together farmers, ranchers, producers, agribusiness owners and more to solicit public feedback — an integral part of the Farm Bill reauthorization process. All members of the Committee have been invited to participate as well as the Texas Congressional delegation. 

 Click here to view the livestream.

ARC/PLC Decisions

ARC/PLC decisions must be dictated to your local FSA office by March 15.

Conservation Reserve Program Sign-up Dates

General sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) will begin February 27 and end April 7.

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol 

March 31, 2023, is the deadline for U.S. cotton producers to enroll their 2023 crop in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.

PCG Annual Meeting

PCG’s 66th annual meeting is on March 28 at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center. Register online today! 

Shawn Holladay Featured on Cotton Companion Podcast

Bangladesh Relaxes Rule on Fumigation of U.S. Cotton Imports

Jordy Rowland and his wife Maegan and their children: Aubrey (11), Ace (10), Harper (9) and Tagg (5).

Q: Did you grow up in agriculture?

A: I grew up in Hart, Texas, and my dad farmed cotton, corn and wheat in Castro County. Farming has always been a passion of mine, and I still remember setting irrigation tubes and moving gated pipe. That was back when we had more water in the area than we do now. My kids will never know anything about that.

North Gin in Dimmitt, Texas.

Q: Where did you go to school (high school and college)?

A: I went to high school at Nazareth Independent School District and was really into sports. Sports and farming were my interests. We were competitive in football, basketball, baseball, track, and golf and I was interested in playing football in college. I decided to walk on to the Texas Tech University (TTU) football team. I played on special teams and at nickel/dime positions and was on a full scholarship the last two and a half years I played. It was a great experience and provided me with some friends that I still have today. I was on the team in 2008 when we made a great run and was a part of the thrilling game when we beat University of Texas at home.

Q: What did you major in while playing football?

A: I started out in mechanical engineering — I’m a numbers guy. However, playing collegiate football was a full-time job in and of itself, so I decided to change my major to agricultural economics. It was nice to be back with ag people. My transcript does look a little funny, though — it’s not every day you have advanced calculus and differential equations as electives.

Q: What did you do after graduation?

A:  I worked for a commercial lending group in Amarillo, Texas, as an analyst working my way up to credit underwriter. I was there for roughly four years when a loan officer position opened at People’s Bank back in Nazareth. My wife and I jumped on the opportunity to move back home.

Q: How did you end up at North Gin?

A: About a year after we moved back, I received a phone call from Jim Bradford. He indicated he was looking for someone to come run the gin. I was familiar with cotton production and had a farming background, but I didn’t know anything about ginning. Jim knew that and worked to teach me everything. He has been an excellent mentor. It took a year or two before I fully saw the operations of a gin season and how everything functioned. Now I’m heading into my 10^th crop.

Q: What is working with Jim Bradford like?

Jordy and Jim examine cotton samples at the gin.

A: Jim makes it easy to come to work every day. He is laid back and always finds a way to find the joy in the day. I have learned so much about how to handle different situations – good or bad. He never loses his cool and always handles business professionally. He is very generous and always looks to help those in need. I don’t know if there are words to adequately capture the totality of Jim Bradford. He is a wonderful mentor and an even better friend.

Q: What was the most challenging part of beginning your career with North Gin?

A: Learning the ins and outs of the gin itself was the most challenging part. Even now, I wouldn’t call myself an expert. We have an amazing gin superintendent, Johnny Emerson. With Johnny, we can always count on the gin being ready to run when the season begins. He’s the best.

Q: What is the average number of bales ginned at North Gin?

A: I wouldn’t say there’s an average number as much as a range that we stay within. For the 2021 crop, we ginned 47,000 bales. The two years before that we did between 20,000 and 30,000. In 2018, we ginned 72,000. Anything below 25,000 is considered below normal for us and we ginned 18,150 bales for the 2022 season.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge for you in your daily operations?

A: Our biggest battle every year is getting acres planted. This area is predominantly ruled by the beef cattle and dairy industries, so there are a lot of mouths to feed. The better irrigated acres in this area have been sold to the dairies. Some dairies are planting a little cotton where their water has dropped off, but the majority of them are planting some sort of feed like sorghum silage or corn silage. And cotton producers plant some, too, where they have water because the prices are good. We need a good 10 to 15 cent rally in the futures prices for cotton or we may lose more acreage in this area this crop season.

Q: What is something you wish more people understood about agriculture?

A: We hear a lot about sustainability these days, and I just wish more people understood the true nature of a farmer. They want to farm the land for generations to come, so they use sustainability practices to ensure that future. Don’t come in here and tell farmers how to be sustainable — they already wrote the book.

Jordy Rowland: Family Man

Jordy met his wife, Maegan in Kindergarten. They began dating their junior year of high school and were married in the summer of 2009. They live in Nazareth and have four children: Aubree (11), Ace (10), Harper (9) and Tag (5).

The Rowlands are active members of the First Baptist Church in Dimmitt, and Jordy’s love of sports has been passed on to his children. Whether its flag football or little dribblers, Jordy is usually coaching one or more teams on his Saturdays. “And, sometimes, I find time to play golf,” he adds.

Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) has reintroduced The Listing Reform Act, legislation designed to modernize the Endangered Species Act. 

Plains Cotton Growers supports this legislation, along with Texas Farm Bureau and Permian Basin Petroleum Association.

“This bill would modify requirements concerning the review of petitions to add a species to the list of endangered or threatened species or to remove a species from the list,” said Kody Bessent, PCG CEO. “Arbitrarily reviewing a petition to list a species simply based on when a petition was received, as compared to a more thorough analysis based on sound science, has, in times past, impacted a producer’s ability to produce a crop based on cropping practices that are agronomically sound for a specific region. Therefore, we support modifications for a more thorough review of the listing process and look forward to working with Rep. Pfluger and others on this important issue.” 

ARC/PLC Decisions

ARC/PLC decisions must be dictated to your local FSA office by March 15.

Conservation Reserve Program Sign-up Dates

General sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) will begin February 27 and end April 7.

PCG Annual Meeting

PCG’s 66th annual meeting is on March 28 at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center. Register online today! 

Williams Family Named 2023 High Cotton-Southwest Award Recipients

After Years of Disaster, Texas Farmers will Plant Far Less Cotton in 2023