The National Cotton Council has scheduled dates and locations for the 2013 Producer Information Exchange (P.I.E.) Program. Sponsored by Bayer CropScience through a grant to The Cotton Foundation, the program is now in its 25th year of helping its U.S. cotton producer participants maximize on-farm efficiency.

This season, Mid-South producers will see operations in Georgia and Alabama June 23-28; Southeast producers will travel to Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi July 7-12; Southwest producers will visit California July 21-25; and Far West producers will tour Texas August 4-9.

The P.I.E. program provides cotton producers with the opportunity to maximize production efficiency and improve yields and fiber quality by: 1) gaining new perspectives in such fundamental practices as land preparation, planting, fertilization, pest control, irrigation and harvesting; and 2) observing firsthand diverse farming practices and the unique ways in which their innovative peers have adopted new and existing technology.

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Cotton Foundation President Barry Evans, a Kress, Tex., cotton producer, said the U.S. cotton industry is very appreciative to Bayer CropScience for underwriting the P.I.E.

“Bayer’s support has enabled hundreds of U.S. cotton producers to compare notes with their peers about what works and doesn’t work and to see and hear how their fellow cotton producers are dealing with current farming challenges such as managing weed resistance and crop input costs,” Evans said.  “And the P.I.E. tours enable participants to not only learn from their hosts but exchange ideas and information with the producers they are traveling with during the week.”

The NCC’s Member Services staff, in conjunction with local producer interest organizations, conducts the P.I.E program, including participant selection. Upon completion of this year’s tours, the P.I.E. program will have exposed more than 1,000 U.S. cotton producers to innovative production practices in regions different than their own.

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