Key resolutions passed by National Cotton Council delegates at the annual meeting recently in San Antonio focus on the 2012 farm bill, international trade issues and Vision-21, a three-pronged project aimed at measuring  cotton’s environmental footprint, evaluating the India and China markets and improving cotton flow.

“As they do every year, the delegate body reviews the resolutions and policies that address all issues that impact the cotton industry,” said Gary Adams, vice president, economics and policy analysis for the National Cotton Council.

“Resolutions will address all those issues that are important to the cotton industry, including farm policy, trade policies and regulatory issues. They look for policies that will help the industry thrive and prosper in 2011.”

Adams said a key for this year, as always, will be farm policy “continue resolutions and policy that preserves a strong safety net for the U.S. cotton industry. We know the challenges that lie ahead of us this year with a tight budget and the looming 2012 farm bill debate.”

He said resolutions concerning international trade policies in general will address the Brazil WTO case against the U.S. cotton program. “We have policies to defend the U.S. cotton program in international trade disputes,” Adams said. “Under that umbrella are resolutions relating to the Brazil case that has been ongoing for a number of years. We will continue activities on that case as the Framework Agreement unfolds and as we move closer to the 2012 farm bill debate.”

Vision-21 “looks at the big picture of key issues in the cotton industry going forward,” Adams said. “There will be key issues concerning the flow of cotton. Efficient flow of is crucial as a tighter supply, stronger demand and higher prices put a premium on being able to satisfy and service our customers. We will exert a lot of effort to make certain that cotton moves as efficiently as possible to domestic customers as well as customers overseas.”