Mid-South, Southeast Producers to See Texas Operations

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The National Cotton Council's Producer Information Exchange program (P.I.E.) will enable Mid-South and Southeast cotton producers to see cotton and other agriculture related operations in Texas' Lubbock and Lower Rio Grande Valley areas on August 21-26.

After this year's two P.I.E. tours, more than 1,200 U.S. cotton producers will have been exposed to innovative production practices in Cotton Belt regions different than their own since the program was launched in 1989. Now sponsored by BASF Agricultural Solutions through a grant to The Cotton Foundation, the P.I.E. is resuming after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19.

NCC Chairman Ted Schneider, a Louisiana producer who was a 1994 P.I.E. participant, said, "The U.S. cotton industry is very appreciative to BASF for underwriting the P.I.E. program because its is providing its producer participants an exceptional opportunity to improve their on-farm efficiency by seeing what works and doesn't work."

Bryan Perry, U.S. head of seeds and traits for BASF Agricultural Solutions said, "BASF is proud to support this unique educational opportunity for America's cotton producers. New technology continues to accelerate at a rapid pace but adapting these tools and techniques to specific farming operations is a challenge. These P.I.E. participants are receiving an invaluable experience by not only seeing innovative farming practices firsthand but getting to ask questions about them face-to-face with their peers."

The P.I.E. program has a specific goal of helping U.S. cotton producers maximize production efficiency and improve yields and fiber quality by 1) gaining new perspectives in such fundamental practices as land preparation, planting, fertilization, pest control, irrigation and harvesting; and 2) observing diverse farming practices and the creative ways in which other resourceful producers have adopted new and existing technology. The program provides another beneficial opportunity as it fosters the sharing of information among the participants within their own Cotton Belt region as they travel together during the week.

The NCC's Member Services staff, in conjunction with local producer interest organizations, coordinates the P.I.E. program's tours and participant selection.

The 2022 Southwest tour participants are: Alabama - Andy Armstrong, Dothan; Arkansas - Ryan Johnson, Wilmot; and Connor Miller, Leachville; Florida - Phillip Melvin, Altha; Georgia - Patti Niewoehner, Dixie; Mississippi - Bo Leatherman, Robinsonville; North Carolina - Kellum Cahoon, Engelhard; Travis Grimes, Battleboro; Denton Spruill and Blake Sumner, both of Como; and Ryan Tolley, Scranton; South Carolina - Weston Green, Lynchburg; Tennessee - Scott Farmer, Stanton; Chad Hardy, Gates; Will Robinson, III, Lavinia; and William Walker, II, Somerville; and Virginia - Bland Pope, Courtland; and Travis Snyder, Capron.

The tour will begin on August 22 in Lubbock where the group will get an overview of the Texas High Plains from Plains Cotton Growers Executive Vice President Kody Bessent before visiting BASF's Seed Innovations Center. Later, they will tour Lloyd Arthur Farms in Ralls and Sam Stanley Farms in Levelland.

The next three days will be spent in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. On the 23rd, the group will tour the Port of Brownsville. On the 24th, they will tour the Ross Gin in Mercedes, look at sugar cane processing at Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers in Santa Rosa and a border cotton trans-shipment warehouse in Weslaco before getting individual tours on Rio Farms in Monte Alto.

The tour concludes on the 24th will visits to the Valley Coop Oil Mill in Harlingen, the Port of Harlingen, and the Hidalgo Water District #5 and then tours of Chris Bauer Farms and the Frank Russell Farm near San Benito. The group also will be updated on boll weevil eradication status in the Rio Grande Valley from the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation back in Harlingen.

In this year's other P.I.E. tour, Southwest and West region producers will see cotton and other agricultural operations in North Carolina on August 28-September 2.

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National Cotton Council of America
As the U.S. cotton industry's unifying force, the Memphis, Tenn.-based National Cotton Council carries out a mission of ensuring the seven industry segments' ability to compete effectively and profitably in the raw cotton, oilseed and U.S.-manufactured product markets at home and abroad.

The Cotton Foundation
This 501(c)3 organization was created to give U.S. cotton's agribusiness allies opportunities to support the U.S. cotton industry over and above the products and services these firms provide. Agribusiness members' dues support general research and education projects while some members such as BASF provide grants over and above their dues to fund special projects.

BASF Agricultural Solutions
From high-quality seed with established brands like FiberMax® and Stoneville®, to proven crop protection and seed treatment products, BASF works closely with cotton growers to protect their crops and maximize yield, acre after acre, year after year. We deliver a complete grower experience - field-tested solutions, agronomic insights, and customized recommendations to help growers overcome every challenge and achieve their fields' full potential. Learn more at www.agriculture.basf.com.

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