In this edition, we hear from a Texas farmer who grows both organic and traditional cotton and peanuts, as well as other crops. Jeremy Brown is one of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) faces of farming, which has given him the opportunity to engage with the non-farm public on the highly emotional topic of biotechnology and GMO crops … Read More
Bayer Proves Strong Commitment to Cotton
With lots of things going on in the cotton industry, Bayer is reinforcing its overall commitment to cotton. The company recently opened a new Cotton Breeding Station in Lubbock, and hosted its 2017 Showcase Plot Tour there. The new facility provides a place for the breeding group and trade development group to collaborate at the same site, allowing them to … Read More
EPA Announces New Dicamba Rules
The Environmental Protection Agency has announced new requirements for the use of dicamba formulations “over the top” to further minimize the potential for drift when applying to dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton. EPA worked worked with impacted states and land-grant universities, as well as Monsanto, BASF and DuPont on measures that will allow farmers to make informed choices for seed purchases … Read More
Bayer Showcasing Commitment to Cotton
The Head of Seeds, North America, for Bayer CropScience is Lee Rivenbark. Lee was a lunchtime presenter during the Bayer Showcase Plot Tour in Lubbock, TX. I thought he would be a great person to provide an overview of why Bayer holds these events and especially the one in their new Cotton Breeding Station. He started out by telling me, … Read More
Conaway Comments on Cotton Damage in Texas
Harvey damaged cotton in Texas (USDA photo) House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) toured south Texas last week with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to see first hand some of the agricultural damage caused by Hurricane Harvey. Conaway and Perdue viewed the area by helicopter and visited farms that were anticipating a record crop before the snow white fields of … Read More
Bayer Showcases Cotton and Peanuts
The peanut and cotton crops are looking especially good right now in Georgia and with harvest still about two weeks away farmers are hopeful Hurricane Irma will spare them. “Harvest season is always critical and you can have a great year and it all be ruined by one hurricane,” said Keith Rucker, Bayer Southeast region technical service rep, during a … Read More
1,000+ Members in FiberMax One Ton Club
Bayer is pround to announce that the FiberMax One Ton Club now boasts a total of 1,049 growers. In 2016, 391 cotton growers from across the nation were honored for their four-bale and higher yields. All qualifying members have surpassed their state average by 2 and a half times, but Johnny Lindley from Lakeview, Texas leads the club with 3,059 … Read More
Wet Weather Sends Planters to the Shed
It’s discouraging when the writer in the family is busier than the farmer, but if your planter was in the shed this week take solace– so was ours. And since misery loves company, here’s the latest USDA report showing national corn planting progress falling behind last year and the five year average. Texans are doing well, with more than 60 percent planted and … Read More
FMC Looking for a Cotton Comeback
Mid-South Farm and Gin Show took place last week in Memphis, Tennessee and FMC is a big part of making that happen as a long-time sponsor. Chris Reat says the show is a lot of fun; a place where relationships are built and reconnected as members of the industry gather to learn about a commodity which plays a lesser part … Read More
Bayer Honors 2017 Cotton Specialist
Robert Hutmacher, PhD, has been named the 2017 Cotton Specialist of the Year, an award sponsored by Bayer. Hutchmacher is an Extension Cotton Specialist at the forefront of disease management and water efficiency issues for California growers. He was selected based on peer evaluations in the areas of leadership and outstanding industry service. “Extension Cotton Specialists are the backbone of … Read More