Farm Progress

PCG annual meeting updatePCG president urges "Stay engaged"Election year important for agriculture

Ron Smith 1, Senior Content Director

April 19, 2016

3 Min Read
<p>As planting time nears in the Texas High Plains, producers have management decisions to consider, but they also have an election year on their minds that could have significant ramifications for agriculture.</p>

Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. executive vice president Steve Verett made it plain to attendees at the organization’s recent annual meeting that the politically-heavy agenda was no accident and that becoming involved in the political process, especially during hard times in farm country, should be a priority.

He encouraged producers and others in the Texas High Plains cotton industry to invest time and money—through the newly created PCG political action committee, among other options—to support agriculture and cotton.

The agenda included an election update from the Cook Political Report, an update from the National Cotton Council, a review of the PCG PAC, an overview of political activities from PCG president Shawn Holladay and short presentations from candidates for the U.S. House District 19.

 

Plains Cotton Growers — Involvement and investment crucial to support cotton industry

Wishing and hoping for better times to return to High Plains cotton is not an option for Plains Cotton Growers, Inc., says Steve Verett, executive vice president.

Getting even more involved in the political processes that affect agriculture in general, and cotton in particular, is a necessity, he said at the organization’s annual meeting at Lubbock.

 

Political observer says — In what should be a slam dunk, Republicans face uphill battle

Branding the 2016 presidential primary season “The Twilight Zone election,” and “the craziest election I’ve ever seen,” David Wasserman says what should be “a slam dunk” for Republicans to retake the White House is instead a challenging road.

Wasserman, U.S. House editor for the Cook Political Report, was keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the Plains Cotton Growers at Lubbock.

 

PCG president: ‘Stay engaged’ in cotton industry

Last fall, High Plains cotton farmers harvested the largest crop they’ve made since 2010 — but a combination of high production costs, low prices, and some production issues left many struggling to just break even.

That’s the picture Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. President Shawn Holladay painted during his address at the organization’s annual meeting at Lubbock.

He urges producers to get involved to help stabilize agriculture in the region.

 

Gallery: PCG annual meeting, Texas Gin show

Plains Cotton Growers leaders, at the PCG annual meeting challenged farmers and others in the cotton industry to be engaged in supporting agriculture and cotton during tough times in farm country.

PCG executive vice president Steve Verett encouraged investment in the new PCG political action committee to support candidates who are friendly to agriculture and to cotton.

Here are some images from the annual meeting and gin show.

 

Villalba named PCG Cotton Extension Agent of the Year

John Villalba, Swisher County agriculture Extension agent, has been named recipient of the Plains Cotton Growers (PCG) Extension Cotton Agent award for 2015.

 

Cotton farmers looking for an edge as they select varieties

High Plains cotton farmers are looking for an edge, any edge, this spring to give them the best shot at eking out a profit—variety selection may be a key factor.

They face the prospect of a market that may decline even more by harvest, production costs with no evidence of dropping, and the always uncertain West Texas weather. Some remain uncertain about production financing for 2016.

About the Author(s)

Ron Smith 1

Senior Content Director, Farm Press/Farm Progress

Ron Smith has spent more than 40 years covering Sunbelt agriculture. Ron began his career in agricultural journalism as an Experiment Station and Extension editor at Clemson University, where he earned a Masters Degree in English in 1975. He served as associate editor for Southeast Farm Press from 1978 through 1989. In 1990, Smith helped launch Southern Turf Management Magazine and served as editor. He also helped launch two other regional Turf and Landscape publications and launched and edited Florida Grove and Vegetable Management for the Farm Press Group. Within two years of launch, the turf magazines were well-respected, award-winning publications. Ron has received numerous awards for writing and photography in both agriculture and landscape journalism. He is past president of The Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association and was chosen as the first media representative to the University of Georgia College of Agriculture Advisory Board. He was named Communicator of the Year for the Metropolitan Atlanta Agricultural Communicators Association. More recently, he was awarded the Norman Borlaug Lifetime Achievement Award by the Texas Plant Protection Association. Smith also worked in public relations, specializing in media relations for agricultural companies. Ron lives with his wife Pat in Johnson City, Tenn. They have two grown children, Stacey and Nick, and three grandsons, Aaron, Hunter and Walker.

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