Public Attitudes
The NCC distributed multiple statements through the media to convey its stance on a range of issues – from farm program development to regulatory affairs.
The NCC continued as in-kind supporter of America's Heartland, the award-winning national television series celebrating American agriculture. The series, in its seventh season and aired on public television and the RFD-TV cable and satellite channel, educates consumers about the origins of their food, fuel and fiber.
In addition, the NCC continued its participation in the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). It and the AgChat Foundation (ACF) are committed to facilitating meaningful conversations with Americans about how food and fiber is raised to ensure the long-term success of American agriculture. ACF was formed in 2010 to empower farmers and ranchers to effectively share their stories using social media. ACF is the first outside organization to partner with USFRA, a coalition that represents more than 50 of the top farmer-and rancher-led organizations and agriculture groups from across the country.
Information Services
The NCC continued to utilize its website, www.cotton.org, to disseminate information for helping its members thrive.
 As part of its educational outreach, the NCC posted on its website, www.cotton.org, multiple new videos to help producers deal with resistance to weeds such as this Palmer amaranth (pigweed). |
Among 2011 postings were the NCC's latest weed resistance videos -- made easily accessible online via the weed resistance management icon on the NCC's home page. The new video additions include:Biology and Management of Pigweed by Dr. Bob Nichols, Cotton Incorporated; Field Day with Dr. Stanley Culpepper, University of Georgia; Horseweed: Control This Weed Early by Dr. Ken Smith, University of Arkansas; and A Field Day with Dr. Larry Steckel, University of Tennessee. Other videos to be added soon are Weed Resistance Management by Dr. Jason Norsworthy, and Weed Management in Corn by Dr. Ken Smith, both at the University of Arkansas.
These videos will be stored on DVDs later to distribute to producers and educators as a continuing effort by the NCC to provide its membership with the best information available.
The NCC's Technical and Communications staff continue to work with land grant university weed scientists and the Weed Science Society of America to develop educational material that is beneficial to those producers faced with this critical issue. The NCC plans to release additional segments in 2012.