ANNUAL COTTON ECONOMICS MEETING - Discover Southside

The Twelfth Annual Virginia Cotton Economics and Production Meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. February 9, 2011, at the Regional Workforce Development Center, Paul D. Camp Community College in Franklin, Virginia. On-site registration is available from 9 to 9:30 a.m., but participants who pre-register may take advantage of a half-price fee.

Organized by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), Virginia Cotton Growers Association, Virginia Cotton Board, Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) and the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, this event includes an economics and production meeting as well as the annual meetings of the Virginia Cotton Growers Association and the Virginia Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation.

The Cotton Economics meeting will take place in the morning, followed by lunch for all paid attendees. The 2011 Annual Statewide Cotton Production Meeting will take place in the afternoon. Topics and speakers include:

Dr. Don Shurley, University of Georgia Cotton Economist - Cotton Marketing Situation and Outlook
Mr. Craig Ellison, NCSU Extension Agent - Producing High Quality Cotton
Dr. Ames Herbert, Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Entomologist - Sound Approaches to Insect Management in Cotton Production
Dr. Pat Phipps and Dr. Darcy Telenko, VCE - Nematode and Seedling Disease Control

An overview of the National Cotton Council, Cotton Board and Southern Cotton Growers and what they provide for the cotton industry will be presented by representatives. Pesticide recertification credits will be available for those applying and attending the production sessions.

The registration cost for the meeting is $5 per person in advance or $10 at the door and includes lunch. Send pre-registrations prior to February 4, 2011 to Virginia Cotton Growers Association, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261 with checks payable to the VCGA, Inc. For more information about the meeting, please call 757.569.1100 (VDACS) or 804.290.1153 (Farm Bureau).

Elaine J. Lidholm
Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
102 Governor St.
Richmond, VA 23219
804.786.7686