2009
NCC Joins on Appreciation Letters for House Disaster Assistance Bill12/04/2009
The NCC joined with other agricultural organizations to express their strong support and the urgent need for legislation to provide funding for emergency financial assistance. Learn more
NCC Letter to Senate HELP Committee Regarding Food Safety (64k pdf)
11/20/2009
The NCC joined commodity, livestock, general farm organizations and the grain trade on a letter to the Senate HELP Committee in advance of the markup outlining concerns about the Senate bill and making recommendations for improvements. Learn more
NCC Joins on Letter Urging Support of Emergency Disaster Assistance Legislation
11/20/2009
The NCC joined with other agricultural groups in urging Senators to support emergency disaster assistance. Learn more
Summary of Arbitration Decision in Brazil WTO Case
11/19/2009
As the result of an earlier compliance panel decision that the United States had failed to fully comply with the original WTO panel’s findings in the ongoing dispute with Brazil, an arbitration panel established the level of retaliation Brazil may take with respect to the U.S. export credit guarantee program (also known as General Sales Manager or GSM-102) and selected provisions of the U.S. cotton program. Learn more
NCC Statement on Action by WTO Dispute Settlement Body
11/19/2009
The NCC submitted a statement today on the action taken by the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body brought by Brazil against the US export credit gaurantee program and portions of the US cotton industry. Also available is a <a href=/issues/2009/panelsummary.cfm>summary</a> of the arbitration decision. Learn more
Hardwick Tells Congress of Crop Distress
11/16/2009
NCC Chairman Jay Hardwick met with key Members of Congress and staff, including Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Lincoln (D-AR) and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Peterson (D-MN) to discuss a number of critical issues and concerns including disaster assistance. Learn more
Letter Urges Andean Trade Preference Act Renewal (16k pdf)
11/16/2009
The NCC joined with multiple trade groups and apparel retailers on a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means urging them to seek expeditious renewal of the Andean Trade Preference Act. Learn more
Textile Benefits Concerns Re: Bangladesh/Cambodia Conveyed (72k pdf)
11/16/2009
The NCC joined with 43 organizations from 28 trade preference countries and free trade areas on a letter to a House trade subcommittee expressing opposition to a proposal that has been made to extend new textile duty benefits to Bangladesh and Cambodia as part of that panel's review of trade preference rules. Learn more
Corrections to '09 DCP/ACRE Direct CCC-1099G Reporting Notice Issued
10/26/2009
FSA issued a notice informing its state and county Offices of actions being taken to provide correct CCC-1099G reporting for '09 DCP and ACRE direct payments. Learn more
Ag Secretary Vilsack Announces $1.7 Billion in CRP Rental Payments
10/07/2009
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced on Oct. 7 that USDA will distribute approximately $1.7 billion in Conservation Reserve Program rental payments to participants across the country in FY10. Learn more
FSA Announces New $1.1 Million Maximum Guaranteed Loan Amount
10/07/2009
USDA's Farm Service Agency on Oct. 7 announced the loan limit for its Guaranteed Loan Program has been increased to $1,112,000, effective Oct. 1. Learn more
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces '10 DCP and ACRE Signup Begins
10/07/2009
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced on Oct. 7 that enrollment for the '10 Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) and the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program has begun and will continue through June 1, '10. Learn more
Letter Notes Disruptions Due to Honduran Political Crisis (30k pdf)
09/25/2009
In a letter to Secretary of State Clinton, leading fiber, textile, apparel, retail and importing groups, along with the NCC, detailed plant slowdowns, production cuts and worker impacts because of the disruptions to the enormous fiber, textile and apparel trade that flows through Honduras caused by the political crisis there. Learn more
New Compliance Panel Sought For Updating WTO Ruling (12.6k pdf)
09/21/2009
The NCC and 34 other agricultural groups wrote the US Trade Representative urging the US government request a new compliance panel to update the recent WTO ruling on USDA's GSM-102 export credit guarantee program. Learn more
EPA Approves BOLLGARD® Cotton Phase-out Plan
08/31/2009
The U.S. EPA has approved an amendment to the registration of Bollgard® cotton that will allow the planting of Bollgard® varieties in the 2010 growing season, and provides detail on the steps necessary to facilitate the final discontinuation Bollgard® varieties in the U.S. Learn more
FSA Issues Notice CN-1040 (21k pdf)
08/24/2009
On Aug. 24, USDA's FSA issued Notice CN-1040 regarding modifications to cotton loan software systems for the upland cotton fine count adjustment and 10% maximum storage-credit rate reduction. Learn more
NCC Issues Statement on Energy Bill
06/25/2009
The NCC commends House Agriculture Committee Chairman Peterson’s (D-MN) stalwart efforts to successfully negotiate amendments to The American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) which authorizes USDA to develop and administer agricultural offsets in a cap-and-trade program. Learn more
House Panel Asked Not to Terminate Cotton Storage Credits (44k pdf)
06/05/2009
A letter from Cotton Belt Congressional leaders urged House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee members not to accept the Administration's proposal to terminate cotton storage credits. Learn more
Groups Say No Farm Law Amendments Wanted
06/05/2009
The NCC joined 42 other organizations in urging the House Appropriations Committee to refrain from including amendments to the farm law in the FY10 appropriations measure. Learn more
June 1 Critical Deadline For Farm Organization
05/28/2009
Although USDA has extended the '09 farm program sign-up deadline from June 1 to Aug. 14 -- June 1, '09 is still the deadline that will be used to determine ownership interest in a legal entity that receives payment subject to limitation. Learn more
Use of Certificates For 2009 Crop Clarified (20.7k pdf)
05/15/2009
USDA issued a notice clarifying that commodity certificates will continue to be exchanged for a '09 crop marketing assistance loan commodity up to the individual loan maturity date for that '09 crop commodity. Learn more
Senators Urge US Officials to Halt China's Cotton Registration Policy (1.1m pdf)
02/27/2009
Senators Chambliss (R-GA), Harkin (D-IA), Lincoln (D-AR), Cochran (R-MS) and Roberts (R-KS) sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Vilsack requesting immediate action to stop China from implementing a new registration system exclusively for imported cotton. They sent a similar letter to Acting US Trade Representative Peter Allgeier and Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong. Learn more
Strong Support For Safety Net Expressed
02/23/2009
The NCC joined with other agricultural organizations on a letter to Agriculture Secretary Vilsack expressing strong and continuing support for the farm safety net that was included in the recently-passed farm bill. Learn more
NCC Submits Comments to a Key Farm Program Interim Rule
02/04/2009
The National Cotton Council submitted comments to USDA-FSA's interim rule regarding amendments to the regulations governing farm program payment limitations and payment eligibility for the '09 and subsequent crop, program or fiscal years. Of particular concern is that the issuing delay makes it very difficult for US farmers and ranchers to adjust their operating plans in accordance with these new rules. Learn more
NCC Urges Senate to Retain Buy American Provision (79k pdf)
01/30/2009
This provision's language requires that iron, steel and other manufactured goods procured in the stimulus package be sourced from US producers. Earlier in the week, the House adopted by voice vote an <a href=issues/2009/upload/kissell.pdf>amendment</a> offered by Rep. Kissell (D-NC) to H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, that would mandate that any textile and apparel products purchased by the US Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration (TSA) be made with 100% US content. The NCC earlier joined onto a <a href=upload/09KissellAmendmentletter.pdf>letter</a> urging Representatives' support of the amendment. Learn more
NCC Letter Urges Availability of Partial CCP For '08 Upland Cotton
01/28/2009
NCC Chairman Larry McClendon wrote Agriculture Secretary Vilsack requesting on behalf of NCC members that he utilize the authority available under the '08 farm law to make available to eligible producers a partial counter-cyclical payment for '08 upland cotton, effective January 27 -- and that it be made at the maximum level of 5.03 cents/lb. Learn more
Comment Period Extension Follows Organizations' Request (21k pdf)
01/23/2009
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Jan. 26 that he will extend the comment period for the '08 farm bill farm program payment limitation and payment eligibility rulemaking process. The NCC had joined with 12 other commodity and general farm organizations on a letter to him requesting a 30-day extension of that Jan. 28 comment submission deadline. Learn more