ABSTRACT

I appreciate the opportunity to address this large gathering of people who have cotton at the center of their livelihoods.

The Beltwide Cotton Conferences are like no other agricultural conference, especially when you consider the diverse groups they bring together. Just within the cotton industry, there are producer representatives here from all reaches of the cotton belt. Joining them are cotton handlers and processors ranging from ginners to textile manufacturers, as well as those who supply our industry with the wide array of goods and services necessary for cotton production.