Southeastern cotton growers and ginners will get an update on cotton production, marketing and ginning from around the world when they meet in Savannah, Ga. on Jan. 19-22.

Registration and board meetings dominate the first two days of the annual Southern/Southeastern (Southern cotton growers and Southeast cotton ginners) meeting.

One thing both cotton producers and ginners have trouble managing is the weather. One of the highlights of this year’s meeting will be a presentation on 2011 weather trends by David Stooksbury, who works with the Georgia Climatology Lab in Athens, Ga.

Richfield, N.C., cotton producer Ronnie Burleson and New London, N.C., ginner Wes Morgan will discuss the impacts of new cotton production and ginning on technology on 2011 cotton crop. Of particular interest will be a discussion of the best ways to manage new on-board module building cotton pickers.

From a national perspective, attendees will hear a report on, “The Cotton Situation and Outlook” from Anthony Tancredi, president of Allenberg Cotton in Memphis, Tenn.

From an international perspective, growers and ginners will get an update on three of the fastest growing cotton regions in the world — India, Pakistan and Bangladesh — from Hemang Goradia, who represents Noble Cotton in the Far East.

Taking advantage of good prices will be a challenge for growers in 2011. The first step will be selecting the right seed for their farming conditions. During the Southern/Southeastern, representatives from Monsanto and Dow will discuss recently released varieties of Deltapine and Phtyogen cotton seed.

California grower and President of the National Cotton Growers Association, Kirk Gilkey, will discuss some of the accomplishments and challenges for cotton growers across the Cotton Belt in 2011.

One of the highlights of the annual Southern/Southeastern meeting is the presentation of Southeastern Cotton Ginner of the Year Award.

For more information on the meeting, contact David Ruppernicker by phone at 706-344-1212, by FAX at 706-344-1222, or by e-mail at [email protected].