Handling Low Seed Prices, Gin Safety and Industry Relations

R.D. Moses, Jr.


 
ABSTRACT

This afternoon as my part of the program, there are about 3 topics I would like to touch on.

The first is dealing with other segments. I remember a comment,that a friend made. He said to always keep the good of the industry in mind as well as your own personal or business interest.

We try to belong, as a member or an associate member, to the other segments' associations that directly affect our own business. These are farm groups, oil mill associations, warehouse associations,,and the cotton merchants association in your state or area which would also involve you indirectly with the American Cotton Shippers Association. By attending their meetings and through their newsletters you can learn about the other segments' problems. Having this knowledge will help in your business dealings and form a closer relationship with the companies and individuals. Remember, you have to look at the other man's problems to effectively trade with him.

Because all segments in the cotton business compliment the other,,the more knowledge we have of the other man's problems will help in running our own business. Also, remember that personal contact whenever possible cannot be beat.

Improving seed prices is a tough problem and we will all have to deal with it in our own way at the present time. A few things that our gin is doing to make some markets for our seed are staying in touch with oil mills, with dairies, feed lots,.and large ranchers. We also try to keep in touch with several different cattle breeders associations as some of their members may be interested. I went to a registered brangus sale with a friend of mine last year and contracted 5 truckloads of seed to a doctor friend of his.

If possible have some seed storage. In South Texas we have a problem with free fatty acid and really have to be careful with green or wet seed.

We have rigged up for an overhead seed house for loading seed in railroad cars and vans especially with live bottoms. We can store about 300 tons with aeration in addition to our overhead houses.

In 1981 we started a safety program in the gin when Don Smith at TIGA came out with a 28 minute safety video in Spanish and English. (I am not pushing any safety video, as Southeastern Gin Association and National Ginners have excellent ones. This happened to be the one we started with.) This video is in 3 sections. They are: 1. Personal safety - jewelry, long hair, drinking, drugs. 2. Safety on gin yard - tractors, trailers, modules and equipment. 3. Inside the gin

Each new employee is shown this video tape with stops and emphasis on the job he will perform. After viewing the video,.the employee signs a letter stating he has viewed the video and understands his job and the safety information. We answer any questions he has at the time. We find that by putting his name on this statement, the program tends to have a deeper and longer lasting effect on the employee. Once a week safety meetings with questions and answers, if not but 5 or 10 minutes, will help keep the program on their minds.

Also, we try to work closely with our insurance company to incorporate their safety program into our own.



Reprinted from 1986 Proceedings: Beltwide Cotton Production Research Conferences pg. 421
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998