Public Attitudes
The National Cotton Council consistently conveyed the industry's views on farm bill components and its position on numerous other legislative matters. That included arranging interviews with industry leaders/staff and issuing news releases and editorial rebuttals, videos and radio news lines on farm bill legislation, trade negotiations and multiple regulatory and environmental issues.
A key example was the distribution of a statement to news media early in the year in which the NCC said it was "deeply disappointed and disturbed by statements to the press made by Brazilian cotton industry representatives regarding new farm law provisions. That statement said the representatives wrongly portrayed the reformed cotton provisions in the farm legislation that was being considered by Congress and said "it is time for the Brazilian industry to acknowledge that the new cotton insurance program is substantial reform." Later, the NCC responded with an Op-Ed piece to a Washington Post editorial critical of the U.S.-Brazil World Trade Organization agreement.
 Among NCC rebuttals to negative news media pieces was "Why Congress Should Care About the Beepocalypse," a commentary that appeared in Roll Call, an online newspaper that covers Capitol Hill. |
Among other examples of NCC rebuttals to negative news media pieces was a response from Dr. Don Parker, the NCC's manager, Integrated Pest Management, to "Why Congress Should Care About the Beepocalypse." That commentary appeared in Roll Call, an online newspaper that covers Capitol Hill. The NCC rebuttal stated that policies directed solely at pesticides will not provide the solution to declining honeybee populations but may have broad unexpected economic impacts on agricultural production.
The NCC continued to disseminate news about the 2013-launched Cotton LEADS™ program that is committed to responsibly-produced cotton. That included updates on the program's escalated partnerships, which numbered more than 200 cotton supply chain companies by late 2014. The NCC coordinates the program as a Cotton Foundation special project and hosts the web site, www.cottonleads.org.
The NCC continued as an in-kind supporter of America's Heartland, the award-winning national television series celebrating American agriculture. The series, in its 11th 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 to participate in http://www.farmpolicyfacts.org/. That and "The Hand That Feeds Us" initiative are committed to ensuring American agriculture's long-term success by facilitating meaningful conversations with legislators and consumers about how food and fiber is produced.
 The Cotton LEADS™ program, committed to responsibly-produced cotton, had garnered more than 200 partners by the fall of 2014. |
Information Services
The NCC continued to utilize its website, www.cotton.org, for disseminating information to its members regarding The Agricultural Act of 2014's implementation. Documents posted in the NCC website's Farm Bill area ranged from rule implementation announcements to frequently asked questions. In addition, multiple NCC-generated farm law provisions summaries were posted to help producers with their farm program decisions prior to the 2015 season.
A number of technical documents were developed and posted on the NCC's site, ranging from lint contamination prevention materials to cotton flow initiatives.
The NCC assisted the National Cotton Ginners Association (NCGA) and its member associations on the production of a new video that addressed safety considerations associated with the John Deere Round module system. Made available via streaming on the NCC website, the video was Volume VI in a series of instructional videos to train employees and help keep the gin workplace free of injuries.