“Beltwide” Aims to Enhance Decision-Making

MEMPHIS – Those planning to attend the 2016 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, set for January 5-7 at the New Orleans Marriott, can register and make hotel reservations beginning on September 21 at http://www.cotton.org/beltwide/. That site includes a schedule of events and general information.

Registration costs before December 14 for the National Cotton Council-coordinated forum are: $175 for NCC/Cotton Foundation members, university and USDA researchers, Extension personnel, associations and consultants; $300 for non-NCC/Foundation members and $80 for students.

On-site conference self-registration kiosks will be available 24 hours a day beginning on the evening of January 4. Beginning on the morning of January 5, NCC staff will be available for attendees needing assistance with registration and name badge printing. Continuing education units or "CEUs" will again be offered.

The 2016 Beltwide will begin at noon on January 5 with a half-day Cotton Consultants Conference session that will focus on new developments from industry, including discussions and reports on new varieties, chemistries and emerging technologies.

The next day's Consultants Conference will begin in the morning with updates on weed management strategies. In addition, entomologists will provide updates on the latest research with regard to the neonicotinoid insecticides including 1) their impact on pollinators and 2) possible replacements for this very important class of chemistry should alternatives become necessary. This session will conclude with a joint session of the Agronomy and Physiology Conference and the Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Conference that will be open to all attendees. Included in that joint session will be an overview of the current status of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and how they may be effectively integrated into a precision agriculture program to improve production efficiency and profitability.

The 11 cotton technical conferences, ranging from agronomy to weed science, will meet concurrently beginning on the morning of January 6 and conclude by noon on January 7.

The Beltwide Cotton Conferences annually brings together those with a stake in a healthy U.S. cotton production sector, university and USDA researchers, Extension personnel/agents, consultants, and industry sales/support personnel.

NCC Chairman Sledge Taylor, a Mississippi cotton producer and ginner, said the Beltwide Cotton Conferences provide an excellent environment for these groups to exchange information.

"This exchange is helping guide cutting-edge research in agronomy, pest management, economics and other important disciplines that can lead to more efficient cotton production, processing and marketing," Taylor said.