The Cotton Foundation

Print Version

Major activities carried out during 2004.
 

LetterThe Cotton Foundation vigorously carries out its mission of encouraging, facilitating and conducting cotton research and education.

Cotton Leadership Class
2004-2005 Cotton Leadership Class participants are front row (l-r): Dale Cougot, Justin Cariker, Robert Oppenheim, Max Denning and Ron Lee, and back row (l-r): James Askew, Carlo Bocardo, Adam Hatley, Craig Moore and Debra Barrett.
However, the Foundation yields its support to projects that can help the NCC carry out its mission of providing U.S. cotton industry members a world marketplace advantage.

That edge is new technology - in the form of new products, systems or techniques. All Foundation-supported projects are aimed at developing these tools to help industry members reduce their fiber production, processing and handling costs. Projects seek solutions in the areas of market development, profitability and regulatory.

The Foundation is providing consistent support for the U.S. cotton industry. For 2004-2005, trustees approved 29 projects funded at $393,000. This supported several ongoing projects as well as support for such new efforts as the International Cotton Genome Initiative Workshop and efforts to develop module/bale management strategies through inventory control.

Irrigation
Cotton producers from Texas and Oklahoma observed irrigation methods in the arid Far West as part of the 2004 Producer Information Exchange.
Non-dues grants from some members have enabled the Foundation to sustain 12 special projects. In addition, individual Foundation member firms continued to provide direct support for some of the NCC’s communications vehicles, the Cotton’s Week newsletter, the AgDay Cotton’s Week program and Cotton eNews. Such partnerships are invaluable and can benefit the NCC immeasurably in sustaining its mission and propelling U.S. cotton’s success in the world marketplace.

For the past several years, the Foundation consistently has retained 70-plus members. This level of commitment from agribusiness demonstrates a willingness to help meet the challenges necessary for ensuring a viable U.S. cotton industry.