In Closing...

I have finally returned to Lubbock and Texas Tech and had a very nice trip back from San Antonio. The Beltwide Cotton Conferences proved to be everything that I expected and more. I want to thank Monsanto for the opportunity to run the student blog at this year's conference. Janice Person and Tyne Morgan with Monsanto's public affairs were very instrumental in making my stay in San Antonio a great experience.

I enjoyed meeting cotton growers and industry leaders at the conference. People in the cotton industry are truly some of the nicest people I have ever met, and everyone I talked to welcomed my questions. Like I mentioned before, I didn't have any direct experience with cotton until I moved to Lubbock, and I learned a great deal about new technologies with the crop and the industry as a whole over the past few days.

I can tell that people involved in the cotton industry are passionate about what they do, and it was exciting to see that enthusiasm. From the looks of these conferences, I think some great times do lie ahead for the industry.

The '09 Pipeline

Monstanto's release of its 2009 R&D Pipeline was a major feature at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences. One of the exciting items in the pipeline is the drought-tolerant corn, which is in phase 3 to 4. Phase 4 is the last phase before commercialization, and farmers are anxiously awaiting its release soon.

Below are some of the highlights of this year's pipeline release from the Monsanto website. Click on the specific item for more information.

Corn Yield Drought 1 Tolerant
(Drought-tolerant Corn)
Phase: 3 to 4
In the fourth-annual R&D pipeline update, the company’s drought-tolerant corn – the first-ever biotech crop with that trait – moved into Phase 4, the last phase before commercialization. This phase includes development and testing of best trait and germplasm combinations for commercial launch.

SmartStax Corn
Phase: 3 to 4
SmartStax corn is the first, most durable and highest-yielding package for total weed and bug control in corn. In the fourth-annual R&D pipeline update, SmartStax moved into Phase 4, the final step prior to the product’s 2010 commercial launch. This phase includes development and testing of best trait and germplasm combinations for commercial launch.

Soy Yield Intrinsic Development
(Higher Yielding Soybean)
Phase: 2 to 3
Higher-yielding soybeans moved into Phase 3 – and another step closer to farmers’ fields – in the fourth-annual pipeline update. Regulatory trials are planned for this summer.

Dicamba Glufosinate Cotton
(Dicamba tolerant cotton)
Phase: 1 to 2
Monsanto’s Dicamba-resistant cotton has moved to Phase 2, where it will be undergoing lab and field testing of genes in plants to select commercial product candidates and to meet regulatory requirements.

Farmers Give Testimony to Class of '09

Along with the release of Deltapine’s Class of '09 varieties, 120 farmers from across the nation have been flown in for the conferences to talk with other growers about their experiences using the varieties in test plots on their farms.

Larry Howell from Como, North Carolina is one of those farmers who tested the Class of ‘09 last year. Howell tested the 0924 and 0935 varieties, and he said he was “really impressed” with the yields.

Howell said the 0924 variety did the best on his farm, averaging 2.9 bales an acre. He said he got those yields even in six weeks of dry weather and 100-degree days. Then Howell explained that right after the 4th of July, he received 8 inches of rain. The 0924 variety held up well for him throughout the unusual weather pattern.

The 0935 variety averaged 2.5 bales an acre on Howell’s farm. He said the mid maturity of this variety might have been a little long for his farm, which would explain why the yield was lower. Howell said the 0935 cotton still looked and performed very well.

Click here to listen to my complete interview with Howell.

Dave Rylander, marketing director for Monsanto, said the 120 farmers who tested the Class of '09 were each given two to three bags of two to three different varieties to test on 20-acre plots. This new testing method helped Monsanto confirm previous studies on yield and quality that had been done on the varieties.

Rylander said the farmers were asked to provide honest feedback on their experiences with the varieties. He said the farmers came to the Beltwide Cotton Conferences to share those experiences with other farmers also, as many other farmers are wondering how well the new varieties have been tested.

Monsanto and Deltapine sponsored the 120 farmers to come to the conferences this year. “This is a way to say ‘thanks’ for all the help they gave us,” Rylander said.

But the farmers who tested the new varieties have done more than provide grower feedback. “They’re one step closer to improving their yields,” Rylander said.

The yields are expected to go up 5% with the new varieties, which will undoubtedly help growers through tough times of low crop prices.

Rylander said he’s excited that many farmers have asked to be a part of the Class of 10 trials. He said 2009 will be a busy year for trials, as many new releases are set to occur in 2010.

Everything Cotton

Attendees at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences have been able to learn about everything from pest management strategies to irrigation systems to global cotton markets. I’ve been impressed by the number of farmers, researchers and industry representatives I have been able to meet over the past few days! In the midst of meetings and presentations yesterday, I was able to sneak away briefly to talk to Rosalyn Smith from Brighton, Tennessee and learn about the “softer side” of the cotton conferences.

Smith owns Cotton Specialties, a business where cotton enthusiasts can buy nearly anything with the popular cotton logo. Smith said this is her 14th trip to the conferences, and she always enjoys coming back.

I had a good time chatting with Smith about her time at the conferences this year. After speaking with her, it was clear to me that she thinks a lot about her customers.

Smith said many people have stopped by her booth this year, which she used to showcase her jewelry, purses, hats and much more. The most popular purchases from Smith’s booth this year have included luggage tags and grippers with the cotton logo and embroidered padfolios and briefcases.

Smith said she can do custom items for gins and individuals. To see all of the cotton items she offers, visit http://www.cottonspecialties.com/.

To listen to my interview with Smith, click here.

"Weather and farming go hand in hand."

The top three places farmers go online:

1. Google


2. Ebay


3. Weather.com

Those survey results aren't surprising. Also not surprising is the fact that farmers at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences are really paying attention to the new Farmers Forecast online at weather.com/farming, and they like what they see!

I mentioned in a previous post the different features the Farmers Forecast includes, such as severe weather alerts that could affect crops and detailed data about precipitation, wind and soil moisture. Monsanto and the Weather Channel have partnered in developing this new site.

Brian Effer with Monsanto has talked to farmers at the trade show about both the Farmers Forecast site and the Cottoncommunity.com network - an online forum that farmers can use to talk and learn about different cotton varieties.

"Everything that they (farmers) do on a day-to-day basis is all determined and based on the weather," Effer said. "Whether or not they can spray today, they can put on their Roundup if it's too windy, whether or not they can plant if the soil is too moist."

Effer said the farmers he has talked to are really excited that there is now a single site for all weather information related to farming from a trusted source, the Weather Channel.

He said there will be more additions to the site as more research is done and as the company receives more feedback from farmers.

To listen to my interview with Effer, click here.

Making it Through the Tough Times...

The Cotton Economic Outlook Symposium was held this morning, and although the speakers presented some recent grim information on cotton prices and U.S. job loss, they also shared a bit of good news to the producers in attendance.

Featured speakers of the symposium included Bob Young with the American Farm Bureau Federation, Mechel Paggi from California State University and Ed Jernigan with FCStone.

Here's the bad news...

• Young reported that 2 million U.S. jobs were lost in 2008, and the U.S. could still see massive layoffs in the first part of 2009. U.S. citizens saw a drop in wealth, loss of credit and higher gasoline prices last year.
• China, a major importer of U.S. cotton, has recently decreased its imports. This has been a major cause of the cotton price decline. Jernigan said global cotton demand is set to fall at the steepest rate on record.
• Paggi reported that drought, particularly in California, has hit cotton growers hard and is now forcing them to re-think their planting strategies. He says water policy is being made in the courts, and many things, like protecting the Delta Smelt fish, have caused even more problems with water contracts and water availability for farmers in California.

All of that information is depressing, but growers can be very hopeful. Here's a bit of good news...

• Young says although the first part of 2009 might look a lot like the poor economy we've seen in 2008, the end of this year is expected to be better. Young said he anticipates there will be more lending opportunities available and lower interest rates that could boost the economy. Also, more jobs could be created and reinstated by the end of the year with the success of an economic stimulus package.
• Cotton demand might be down in China, but planted cotton acreage is also expected to decline in China this year. Jernigan said that many farmers in China lost money on their crop last year too, and surveys show that cotton acreage will be down around 17% this year. Other world countries are decreasing acreage due to lack of an efficient water supply. This will bring on a tight supply in China and other importers, which will help U.S. cotton exports in the future.
• Jernigan also said that he believes cotton prices have bottomed out, and he reassured growers that the worst is probably over for a while.

As agriculture is the nation's number one economic industry, it’s evident that these struggles have impacted the cotton industry through the marketing chain. Growers, ginners and retailers alike have faced struggles. Fortunately, from my experiences in agriculture, I have found that people in this industry are also some of the most optimistic people. They love what they do and believe strongly in it. If anyone can make it out of tough times, I know the folks in agriculture can!

On the Move

One of the highlights of my experience at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences so far has been my tour of Monsanto's Moblie Technology Unit (MTU).

I had heard of the MTU but had never been inside. It was really neat to learn about some of the technologies the company is trying out and some of the new methods its researchers are using to test seeds.

A little bit about the MTU...

The 18-wheeler has traveled to more farms than many people will visit in their entire lives, according to Monsanto's website. It has reached out to more than 8,000 farmers, ag youth and others as far north as South Dakota and as far south as Florida. The educators who take participants on tours of the unit follow the motto, "Our Science. Your Success."

As I watched the video and listened to the MTU educators, I couldn't help but think how beneficial the MTU is not only to growers, but to consumers also. The general public who might not have a direct link to the farm would benefit from seeing this facility.

This is a breakdown of what I believe growers and consumers can get from touring the MTU:

Growers:

Like I said before, the MTU follows the theme, "Our Science. Your Success." Monsanto is trying to explain to farmers the latest technologies it is using to produce higher-quality seed, and in turn, help farmers achieve higher yields.

• The MTU shows the growers the time and money it takes to develop the products they use on their farms.


• The MTU allows growers to see the entire pipeline process and the robotic tools and machines that are making the pipeline process more efficient.
  
• The MTU gives farmers something to look forward to, such as the production of drought-tolerant corn and cotton.

Consumers:

Consumers see the end result of the technologies, and unfortunately as I have found in working in communications, many people simply don't care about the tireless efforts that go into the food they eat. However, I have noticed that people are starting to pay more attention to eating healthier and more natural foods.

• The MTU shows how the technologies that are going into the seed are making healthier end products for the consumer.
  
• The MTU introduces products that places such as fast food restaurants are using to make food healthier. This includes the Vistive low-linolenic soybeans that can reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids in processed soybean oil. This oil can be used in frying and making various foods.

I would definitely recommend the MTU tour to anyone. Like the trailer shows, farmers really do feed, fuel and clothe the world!

A video and explanation of the MTU can be found here.

Deltapine Scholarship Winners Announced

Deltapine hosted an elaborate reception last night, and one of the highlights of the event was the announcement of the Class of ‘09 scholarship winners! Congratulations to these young people with bright futures in agriculture and the cotton industry:

• William Tyler Whaley – Kinston, NC


• Katherine Paige Thigpen – Folkston, GA


• James Leo Nevil – Register, GA


• Jacob Bradley Conway – Riverdale, CA


• Eric Steven Schwertner – Miles, TX


• Anthony Robert Meals – Clay Center, KS


• Joshua Dane Moore – Parker, AZ


• Thomas Graves Chaplin – Hartsville, SC


• Scott Thomas Landers – Cooper, TX

Each student received a $1,000 college scholarship.

Resistance Happens

Resistance to pests in the cotton fields does happen, but Dr. Walt Mullins with Monsanto said the key to coping with resistance is prediction. Mullins gave a presentation on the industry’s role in insect and weed resistance for cotton yesterday afternoon, and I had the opportunity to listen in on the discussion.

Most of my past posts have focused on cotton producers and the new tools available to them, but I think it is important to highlight some of the things researchers are working on to help farmers cope with some of the pest problems they face. Sometimes the communication – not only in dealing with resistance issues – can get a little technical. That communication channel between industry leaders and growers must be open both ways to help combat pests in the fields.

Mullins explained that the number one cause of pest resistance is USE, and repeated use of a dose of a product will continue to cause resistance problems if 100% of the target pest population is not killed on the first application. He said producers can help themselves most by detecting any types of resistance problems early and communicating those problems with their seed sales representatives.

The industry has the obligation to fix those problems for the farmer – a trying task for sure, but one that industry leaders must be prepared to deal with. Mullins outlined these obligations for the industry:

• Provide management solutions and training the pest resistance to growers.
  
• Maintain a leadership position in research on products.


• Discover and provide new options for more effective pest control.


• Develop and communicate reasonable pre-emptive and reactive resistance management.


• Commit to follow up with growers on their pest management issues.


• Remain transparent in pest resistance work.

This is a fitting topic for this year’s cotton conferences as farmers learn more about Bollgard II with Roundup Ready Flex cotton. Monsanto has reported that about 5 million acres of the stacked-trait cotton was planted in 2008, and it expects about 5.6 million of the 8.6 million U.S. cotton acres will be planted with Bollgard II with Roundup Ready Flex in 2009.

Farmers are finding out about the results of the 2008 crop at the conferences this week. Monsanto has reported that Bollgard II stood up to some heavy worm pressure across the Cotton Belt in 2008, especially in parts of southern Arkansas and in the southern part of South Carolina. That pressure was brought on by tobacco budworms, cotton bollworms and fall armyworms, depending on the area.

In a Monsanto press release, Mullins said the Bollgard II technology clearly showed superior worm control compared with other types of Bt cotton, including the original Bollgard.

Mullins also noted that Bollgard II, for the most part, did not have to be sprayed with insecticide for worm control across the Cotton Belt in 2008.

To find out more about Bollgard II, click here.

Honoring a Top Farmer

I attended a luncheon today that honored the 2008 Cotton Grower Achievement Award winner, Van Murphy from Quitman, Georgia. I really enjoyed listening to Murphy's words after accepting his award. He encouraged other growers in attendance to "expect good things" on their cotton farms, and those good things will eventually happen. After listening to him speak, it was evident that Murphy has a lot of excitement and passion for the cotton industry. His recognition of his wife, Julie, children and grandchildren at the luncheon also showed his passion for his Christian faith and family.

Murphy is the executive manager of BCT Gin Co., Inc., a business he's seen expand from a 10,000-bale gin to a 126,000-bale gin since 1983 and through trying times in the cotton industry. The Cotton Grower featured Murphy in its January 2009 issue.

A hearty congratulations to him on this achievement!

More Online Tools for Farmers

The Web has changed agriculture tremendously and continues to help farmers with their operations. Today, I discovered two new online tools farmers can use, and I think both are beneficial not only for cotton growers but for all farmers.

Growing up on a farm, I know how important the weather is to crop production. My dad and many other farmers I know constantly watch the Weather Channel for the forecasts to make planting and harvesting decisions. The folks at the Weather Channel know how important their work is to agriculture and have decided to dedicate a new project specifically for the industry.

Farmers can now log on to www.weather.com/farming and simply type in their zip code or city to get the “Farmers Forecast.” The forecast includes anything from freeze warnings to wind alerts. Farmers can get projected precipitation, soil moisture and current local wind speeds at their fingertips. The daily almanac is also a feature, and agricultural news headlines and maps with graphic weather patterns are included as well.

Jeff Morrow, an on-air meteorologist with the Weather Channel, showed off the website in the media room this morning. He said farmers should know that the site requires no subscription and is very easy to access. And Morrow knows how important this information is to people in agriculture.

“There are very few industries that are as weather-sensitive as agriculture,” he said.

Monsanto’s Tyne Morgan took video of Morrow’s explanation of the site. That video can be found on Monsanto’s website.

The second Web tool is geared more specifically for cotton farmers. Cottoncommunity.com is the first online community for cotton farmers to share their experiences with one another. This social and informational network, developed by Deltapine, also includes videos, farmer testimonials and information on new cotton varieties.

According to the website, the network “is the one site where you can learn everything you need to know about new cotton varieties, hear what other growers are saying about those products and even communicate with other growers and crop consultants.”

Farmers can also search for information about cotton production in specific states, different soil types and different maturities. It also looks like a great way to keep in touch with fellow cotton farmers from different areas of the country!

"The Future of Cotton is Here..."

That’s the slogan of the day, which justly matches the theme for the 2009 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, “Improving Our Farm, Future and World.” Today Deltapine releases its Class of ‘09 varieties, which include:

• DP 0912 B2RF – a new early maturing variety from Monsanto



• DP 0920 B2RF and DP 0924 B2RF – new early-mid maturing varieties from Monsanto



• DP 0935 B2RF – a new mid maturing variety from Monsanto



• DP 0949 B2RF – a new mid-full maturing variety from Monsanto
  

As part of the Class of ‘09 release, Deltapine is awarding nine $1,000 scholarships to college students. In order to be eligible for a scholarship, the applicant must be a high school senior with a minimum 2.80 GPA. The student must plan to attend a two- or four-year college or university with the intent to study an agriculture-related field. The student must also live in a cotton-producing state and be involved in cotton production. The scholarship winners, who will be announced today, are the nine students who wrote the best essays titled, “My Future in Cotton.”

Deltapine plans to continue its scholarship tradition and will award 10 college scholarships next year with the release of the Class of 10 varieties.

For more information on the new varieties and the scholarship program, click here.

Red Raider in San Antonio

My name is Katie Allen, and this is my first time at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences! I made it to San Antonio late last night from Lubbock, where I am a Master’s student in agricultural communications at Texas Tech University.

Although I am a west Texan currently, I call Marceline, Missouri my home. I completed my Bachelor’s in agricultural journalism at the University of Missouri last year. A fellow Mizzou grad and my friend, Tyne Morgan, currently works in public affairs for Monsanto. When she called me up last month to offer me the student blogging position at the conference, I immediately accepted! I love San Antonio and am thrilled by the opportunity to meet new people.

A little bit about my background – I am a Midwest girl at heart and grew up on a diversified farm where my family raises beef cattle, corn and soybeans. While completing my education, I have also worked as a freelance writer for several farm magazines. I have experience in newspaper writing and ag radio also. I am particularly interested in ag policy issues, and my thesis research that I am focusing on now involves country-of-origin labeling (COOL). In the past, I’ve mostly covered ag news in Missouri and the Midwest, but I’m now enjoying life in west Texas and cotton country. I'm learning so much about production agriculture in the South!

I have an interest in agriculture and all of its many aspects, and I plan to devote my career to promoting and expanding our nation’s number one economic industry. San Antonio is such a great place to visit, and I am excited to visit again! This blog will cover some of the conference events and will include a Midwesterner’s take on cotton. I hope to learn even more about cotton production and meet the U.S. cotton growers and ag leaders who are so influential in this industry!