Delta Farm Press Logo

Cotton tour to show sustainable systems can be profitable for growers and meet the needs of end users.

Compiled by staff

June 16, 2021

2 Min Read
Marty White and Jesse Flye1 web.jpg
Cooperative growers, Jesse Fly and Marty White, will be on hand at the field day to discuss sustainable cotton systems.Ginger Rowsey

A Cotton Sustainability Field Day will be held at the Judd Hill Foundation Farm outside of Trumann, Ark., on Friday, July 30, 2021.

The field day will include tours on the Judd Hill Farm and a talk with cooperative cotton producers Marty White and Jesse Flye. Field scale demonstrations of cover crops and conservation tillage are included in the tour. These sustainable systems are intended to show attendees that the operations can be profitable and meet the demands of today's consumers.

There will also be a discussion of cotton sustainability programs, U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (https://trustuscotton.org/) and the Better Cotton Initiative (https://bettercotton.org/). These programs are important tools for brands and retailers, which place a high importance on the transparency of their supply chain for clean product solutions.

Producers will have the opportunity to discuss enrollment and training for the programs from representatives of both organizations.

Tours will also show participants research which takes place on the farm including, soil and water conservation research with comparative studies monitoring greenhouse gas production, edge-of-field water quality, and soil health metrics, as well as practices to improve irrigation water management and integrated pest management.

A barbeque lunch will be provided by the Judd Hill Farm and Mike Gibson.

The field day has been organized under the umbrella of the Judd Hill Foundation by the University of Arkansas, USDA-ARS, Arkansas State University, USDA-NRCS, the Soil Health Institute, Cotton Incorporated, and the National Cotton Council.

The farm is located five miles south of Trumann, Ark., on Highway 214 in Poinsett County.

Field Day Schedule of Events

8:00 Registration

8:30 Welcome

Mike Gibson, Trustee, Judd Hill Foundation

9:00 Trailers depart for field tour

Soil and Water Conservation Research

Dr. Tina Gray Teague, Professor of Entomology,  ASU/UADA

Dr. Michele Reba, Research Hydrologist, USDA-ARS Delta Water Management Research Unit

Dr. Arlene Adviento-Borbe, Research Agronomist, USDA-ARS Delta Water Management Research Unit

Soil Fertility Research

Dr. Chuck Wilson, Soils Specialist-Field Crops,UADA

Field-Scale Soil Health Demonstrations

Marty White, Producer, Judd Hill, AR

Jesse Flye, Producer, Judd Hill, AR

Adam Chappell, Producer, Cotton Plant, AR

Matt Fryer, Soil Instructor, UADA

11:00 Tent Talk

Healthy Soils for Sustainable Cotton Program Update

David Lamm, Project Manager, Soil Health Institute

Update on U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol

Dr. Gary Adams, CEO, National Cotton Council of America

Better Cotton Initiative 2030 Targets

Amna Bajwa, Program Coordinator, Better Cotton Initiative

Sourcing Trends: Brands Want to Know More

Hank Reichle, President and CEO, Staplcotn

12:00 BBQ lunch under the tent

1:00 Training and Enrollment Opportunities

For the U.S Cotton Trust Protocol and Better Cotton Initiative at the Judd Hill office

The event flier can be viewed here.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like