The Cotton Foundation

Strong support of The Cotton Foundation in 2002 enabled it to target its resources at projects that can bring about production and processing efficiencies sooner rather than later.

Major activities carried out during 2002.
ACap not-for-profit, 501c(3) organization, The Cotton Foundation permits individuals and organizations not eligible for NCC membership to support the cotton industry’s goals and objectives. The institution’s mission is to provide vision and leadership to the U.S. cotton industry through research and education in support of the NCC and allied industries.

Strong support of the Foundation in 2002 enabled it to target its resources at projects that can bring about production and processing efficiencies sooner rather than later.

A large portion of Foundation-supported work, in fact, is driven by recommendations from the NCC’s Profitability Initiative, which pointed to the potential of precision agriculture, genetics, biotechnology, conservation tillage and narrow row cotton. The NCC-commissioned survey to determine the extent and type of conservation tillage being practiced by U.S. cotton producers is one example of targeted work supported by the Foundation.

California and Arizona cotton producers seized the opportunity to see cotton farms and other operations in the Mid-South during the Cotton Foundation's 2002 Producer Information Exchange Program.

California and Arizona cotton producers seized the opportunity to see cotton farms and other operations in the Mid-South during the Cotton Foundation’s 2002 Producer Information Exchange Program.

Another NCC-directed study concluded that from four to seven cents per pound in savings could be achieved from precision agriculture but further refinements of that technology are necessary. That study has led to major on-farm projects using remote sensing and variable rate technology in Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and California. Trials thus far have shown significant efficiencies in the application of plant protectants, fertilizer, water and other inputs.

Without the over-and-above grants from cotton’s agribusiness allies that make possible special projects, many of the industry’s outstanding educational and communications activities could not be conducted. Those projects range from the Producer Information Exchange Program to the CCI COTTON USA Advantage Program, which received increased special project support in 2002. The NCC also gained special project commitments from several Cotton Foundation members for its core communications vehicles in 2003.