After years of debate, delays and more than a little determination, U.S. agriculture has a new farm law. But much remains to be done before The Agricultural Act of 2014 can be rolled out to farmers and ranchers across the country. Rules have to be written and then the law implemented.

Consequently, many questions remain as to how the new law will affect different commodities, regions and even specific farms. The National Cotton council hopes to address some of those issues through a series of meetings scheduled across the Cotton Belt through late March.

The council has scheduled 49 education meetings in 15 Cotton Belt states to provide its members with a greater understanding of The Agricultural Act of 2014.

Farm bill implementation a key issue for 2014

The first four meetings are scheduled for February 24 and 25 in South Texas. Remaining meetings will be conducted from March 17-25.

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NCC President/CEO Mark Lange said, “This new five-year comprehensive farm law includes fundamental changes in cotton’s safety net, a greater reliance on crop insurance products, and will be implemented over the 2014 and 2015 crops. As with previous farm laws, some of this legislation’s provisions are complex, and the Council wants to provide our members with the insight necessary for them to plan accordingly. All producers, cotton industry firms and agribusinesses are encouraged to attend any of these important meetings.”

Meeting schedule

The schedule of meetings listed by state is (all times local):

Alabama

Atmore – March 24, 9:00 a.m.    
The Club, 1927 Highway 21

Belle Mina – March 25, 3:00 p.m.             
Tennessee Valley Research Station, 9494 Experimental Loop

Prattville – March 25, 9:00 a.m. 
Marriott Legends Conference Center, 2500 Legends Circle

Troy – March 24, 3:00 p.m.          
Pike County Cattleman's Facility, 4100 US Highway 231 South

Arkansas

Keiser – March 20, 2:00 p.m.       
UA Northeast Research & Education Center, 1241 West County Road 780

McGehee – March 18, 9:00 a.m.
McGehee Men's Club Community Center, #1 Airport Road South

Arizona

Maricopa – March 19, 2:30 p.m.
University of Arizona – Cardon Building, 37860 West Smith-Enke Road

Safford – March 20, 9:00 a.m.    
Manor House Restaurant, 415 East Highway 70

Yuma – March 19, 8:00 a.m.       
Booth Machinery, 6565 East 30th Street

California

Bakersfield – March 18, 9:00 a.m.            
Kern Ag Pavillion, 3300 East Belle Terrace

Coalinga – March 17, 2:00 p.m.  
Harris Ranch – Garden Ballroom, I-5 & Highway 198

Dos Palos – March 17, 9:00 a.m.
D.E.S. Hall, 1357 Elgin Avenue (Hwy 33)

Georgia

Baxley – March 20, 9:00 a.m.      
Baxley Church of God – Fellowship Hall, 353 Blackshear Highway

Dawson – March 21, 2:00 p.m.   
Main Street Theater, 152 North Main

Donalsonville – March 21, 9:00 a.m.        
Lion's Club, 100 South Wiley Avenue

Statesboro – March 19, 3:00 p.m.             
Bulloch County Ag Center, 151 Langston Chapel Road

Tifton – March 20, 3:00 p.m.       
Rural Development Center – Small Auditorium, 15 RDC Road

Kansas

Hugoton – March 20, 1:00 p.m.  
Stephens County 4-H Building at Fairgrounds, 11th Street & Washington Street

Wellington – March 21, 8:00 a.m.             
Raymond Frye Complex, 320 North Jefferson Avenue

Louisiana

Alexandria – March 17, 9:00 a.m.             
C. Woodrow Dewitt Livestock Facility at LSU-A, 100 Gregg Marshall Drive

Winnsboro – March 17, 3:00 p.m.            
Scott Center – Macon Ridge Research Center, 212A Macon Ridge Road

Missouri

Portageville – March 20, 9:00 a.m.           
Delta Research Center, 3/4 mile south of Hwy 162 and Hwy T intersection

Mississippi

Clarksdale – March 19, 2:00 p.m.              
Coahoma County Expo Center, 1150 Wildcat Drive

Indianola – March 19, 9:00 a.m.
MDCC Capps Technology Center, 920 Highway 82 West

Yazoo City – March 18, 3:00 p.m.              
Hampton Inn, 2161 Grand Avenue

North Carolina

Fayetteville – March 18, 9:00 a.m.            
DoubleTree Hotel – Garden Room, 1965 Cedar Creek Road

Greenville – March 17, 3:00 p.m.              
Hilton Hotel – Carolina Ballroom A, 207 SW Greenville Boulevard

Oklahoma

Altus – March 20, 9:00 a.m.         
Oklahoma Cotton Cooperative Association, 20284 East CR 165

South Carolina

Florence – March 18, 3:00 p.m.  
Pee Dee Research Center, 2200 Pocket Road

St. Matthews – March 19, 9:00 a.m.
Tri-County Electric Cooperative, 6473 Old State Road

Tennessee

Jackson – March 21, 9:30 a.m.   
DoubleTree Hotel – Adams/Calhoun Salons, 1770 Highway 45 Bypass

Memphis – March 24, 2:00 p.m.
Agricenter International – Banquet Room, 777 Walnut Grove Road

Texas

Amarillo – March 19, 2:30 p.m.  
AgriLife Extension Center, 6500 Amarillo Boulevard West

El Campo – February 24, 9:00 a.m.           
El Campo Civic Center, 2350 North Mechanic Street

El Paso – March 21, 9:00 a.m.     
Wyndam Hotel – Theater Room, 2027 Airway Boulevard

Garden City – March 18, 9:00 a.m.           
Glasscock County Community Center, 117 South Myrl Street

Haskell – March 19, 2:00 p.m.     
Haskell Memorial Civic Center, 202 South Avenue B

Lamesa – March 17, 9:00 a.m.    
Leroy Colgan Building, South 10th Street & South Houston Street at Forrest Park

Lubbock – March 18, 9:00 a.m.  
Bayer Museum of Agriculture, 1121 Canyon Lake Drive

Monte Alto – February 25, 3:00 p.m.       
Rio Farms –  Sam Sparks Auditorium, 25601 North FM 88

Muleshoe – March 18, 2:00 p.m.
Bailey County Electric Cooperative, 610 East American Boulevard

Plainview – March 19, 9:00 a.m.
Plainview Country Club, 2902 West 4th Street

Robstown – February 25, 8:30 a.m.          
Richard Borchard Fairgrounds – Ballroom B, 1213 Terry Shamsie Boulevard

Roby – March 19, 9:00 a.m.        
Roby Community Center, near intersection of Hwy 180 & Hwy 70

San Angelo – March 18, 1:30 p.m.            
AgriLife Extension Center, 7887 US Highway 87 North

Seminole – March 17, 2:00 p.m. 
Old City Hall – Ambassador Room, 101 Avenue A

Uvalde – March 17, 9:00 a.m.     
SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center, 300 East Main Street

Victoria – February 24, 2:00 p.m.
Victoria Educational Gardens Pavilion, 283 Bachelor Drive

Virginia

Franklin – March 17, 9:00 a.m.   
PDCCC Work Force Development Center – Technology Theater, 100 North College Drive

Also of interest:

Farm bill proves crop insurance popularity at all-time high, says industry…

Farm bill passage puts decisions on farmers

Federal versus state rights in new farm bill