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Cotton Specialists Corner

Extension Cotton Specialists

58 episodes

2 months ago

When the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed on July 4th, 2025, it marked a turning point for America's cotton farmers after years of economic hardship. But what exactly does this legislation mean for growers across the Cotton Belt, and how did the industry secure these critical policy wins? In this revealing conversation, Camp Hand hosts three key cotton industry leaders—Taz Smith from the National Cotton Council, Kody Bessent from Plains Cotton Growers, and Taylor Sills from the Georgia ...

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Natural Sciences

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When the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed on July 4th, 2025, it marked a turning point for America's cotton farmers after years of economic hardship. But what exactly does this legislation mean for growers across the Cotton Belt, and how did the industry secure these critical policy wins? In this revealing conversation, Camp Hand hosts three key cotton industry leaders—Taz Smith from the National Cotton Council, Kody Bessent from Plains Cotton Growers, and Taylor Sills from the Georgia ...

Show more...

Natural Sciences

Episodes (20/58)

Cotton Specialists Corner

Unraveling the One Big Beautiful Bill: What Cotton Growers Need to Know

When the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed on July 4th, 2025, it marked a turning point for America's cotton farmers after years of economic hardship. But what exactly does this legislation mean for growers across the Cotton Belt, and how did the industry secure these critical policy wins? In this revealing conversation, Camp Hand hosts three key cotton industry leaders—Taz Smith from the National Cotton Council, Kody Bessent from Plains Cotton Growers, and Taylor Sills from the Georgia ...

2 months ago

49 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 56 - Southeast Crop Update

Drs. Guy Collins (NCSU), Keith Edmisten (NCSU), Sudeep Sidhu (UF), and Josh Lee (AU) join host Camp Hand (UGA) to discuss planting conditions, acreage reduction, and crop management during a challenging 2024 season. Weather patterns, market pressures, and management strategies dominate the conversation as experts share insights on navigating the lowest cotton acreage since the early 1990s. • North Carolina experienced good early planting conditions followed by wet, cool weather that prevente...

4 months ago

37 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 55 - Mid-South Crop Update

Drs. Shelley Pate-Kerns (Louisiana State University), Brian Pieralisi (Mississippi State University), Zachary Treadway (University of Arkansas), Tyson Raper (University of Tennessee), and Bradley Wilson (University of Missouri) join host Camp Hand (University of Georgia) to discuss the status of the Mid-South Cotton Crop. Discussions include planting conditions and planted acres, current situation, and the crop outlook.

4 months ago

57 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 54 - Southwest Crop Update

Drs. Randy Norton (University of Arizona), Ken Lege (Texas A&M AgriLife), Jenny Dudak (Oklahoma State University), Logan Simon (Kansas State University), and Benjamin McKnight (Texas A&M AgriLife) join host Camp Hand (University of Georgia) to discuss the crop in the Southwestern portion of the cotton belt. Discussions included planting conditions, planted acres, crop condition, and outlook for the season.

4 months ago

1 hour 11 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Making the case for increasing cotton demand: Polyester's contribution to microplastic contamination in the environment and our bodies

Drs. Jesse Daystar (Chief Sustainability Officer, Cotton Inc.) and Richard Venditti (Professor, Dept. of Forest Biomaterials at NC State) join host Camp Hand (University of Georgia) to discuss plastic leakage, particularly as it pertains to microplastic contamination in the environment and our bodies. Conversations revolve around the sustainability of cotton and how polyester is the main source of microplastic contamination around the world. For those wanting additional resources, those can b...

4 months ago

1 hour 4 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 52 - History and Importance of the Boll Weevil and its Eradication

Entomologists Drs. Ray Frisbie (Texas A&M), Ron Smith (Auburn University), Phillip Roberts (University of Georgia), and agronomist Dr. Steve Brown (Auburn University) join host Camp Hand (University of Georgia) to discuss the history and importance of the boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) and its eradication. Discussions surround the boll weevil and its management prior to eradication, controversy surrounding eradication during the early days, changes in cotton growth and management follow...

6 months ago

1 hour 19 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 51 - How Growers Across the Belt are Making it Work in 2025

Extension Cotton Specialists Drs. Ken Lege (Texas A&M Agrilife), Tyson Raper (University of Tennssee), and Mike Jones (Clemson University) join host Camp Hand (University of Georgia) to discuss ways that growers across the cotton belt are adjusting production strategies with the difficult economic situation facing the farm in 2025. Conversations revolve around reducing current inputs (seeding rates, fertility) or changing production strategies entirely (ELS/conventional cotton) and associ...

7 months ago

53 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 50: Added to the Severe Challenges of Current Production, the Devastation of Hurricane Helene

Drs. Keith Edmisten and Camp Hand, cotton specialists at North Carolina State University and the University of Georgia, respectively, join host Dr. Steve Brown to discuss the economic situation facing agricultural producers throughout the US, along with the impacts of hurricanes on cotton production, specifically discussing the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in late September.

1 year ago

44 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 49: The USDA Cotton Classing System -- Procedures, Benefits, Grades and More

Byron Cole, Deputy Director of the Grading Division, and Greg Townsend, Area Director of the Visalia Cotton Classing Office, join host Steve Brown to discuss the USDA Cotton Classing System, including Some of the history behind the SystemThe processes and diligence of delivering consistent, repeatable analysis of samples within and across Classing OfficesThe actual how-to's of classing HVI versus the old wayYear-to-year challenges and efficiencies Extraneous MatterDiffere...

1 year ago

1 hour 4 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 48: Thoughts about the JD Round Module Picker and Calibration of the Module Handling System

Dr. Wes Porter, Extension Ag Engineer at the University of Georgia, joins host Steve Brown to talk about the JD roll picker, with a few thoughts about the comparable stripper version. We discuss a little history about the concept and talk about advancements in capabilities of these remarkable machines. We specifically address how to calibrate the module handling system and the possible uses of the resulting data.

1 year ago

38 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 47: Irrigation Management, Irrigation Termination in Cotton

Extension Cotton Specialists Drs. Randy Norton (University of Arizona), Brian Pieralisi (Mississippi State) and Camp Hand (University of Georgia) join host Steve Brown to discuss approaches, means, methods and challenges of irrigation in their respective regions. We also discuss WHEN to quit, when to shut off irrigation and the associated factors that go into that decision.

1 year ago

58 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 46: Stink Bug Management in Cotton

Cotton Entomologists Drs. Scott Graham (Auburn University) and Phillip Roberts (University of Georgia) join host Steve Brown to discuss management of this common pest ... at least a pest that is ever-present in the Southeast and perhaps some other parts of the Belt. Topics include why stink bugs are a threat in many areas, basic biology and life cycle characteristics, damage symptoms, scouting methods and thresholds as well as the intersection and influences of plant bug management with stink...

1 year ago

51 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 45: Potassium (K) Management in Cotton

Soil Scientists / Fertility Experts Drs. Hunter Frame (Virginia Tech), Glen Harris (University of Georgia), Audrey Gamble (Auburn University) and Katie Lewis (Texas A&M) join host Steve Brown of Auburn to discuss the challenges associated with K management in cotton. Sometimes, particularly in the the Lower Southeast, we can fertilize appropriately and still encounter K deficiencies, presumably because pre-bloom heat/moisture stresses limit K uptake; then during boll-fill, K demand from l...

1 year ago

57 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 44: Crop Update from across the U.S. Cotton Belt

Numerous Extension Cotton Specialists from across the U.S. provide an update on the 2024 crop as of June 7. Reports include planting progress, expected final acreage crop, crop condition and emerging issues and challenges. Information from 10 states is provided, from Arizona to Virginia.

1 year ago

47 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 43: Nitrogen Management in Cotton

Bhupinder Farmaha (Clemson University), Tyson Raper (University of Tennessee), John Arnall (Oklahoma State) and Katie Lewis (Texas A&M) join host Steve Brown to discuss N management in cotton. The session addresses: Are we using too much N in some areas? Why do many N studies across the Belt show limited or even no response to N? If that is the case, where does the N come from? How much N is actually required to make a bale of cotton (and the associated seed, etc.)? Can we mine resi...

1 year ago

1 hour 6 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 42: Review of 2023 Research on the Subject of "Biological" and "Microbial" Products in Cotton

Drs. Brian Pieralisi (Mississippi State) and Brian Arnall (Oklahoma State) join host Steve Brown in a broad discussion on the subject of new Biological, Microbial and other products targeted to improve crop productivity. We discuss the 2023 Beltwide Cotton Incorporated project in this realm and also chase several "rabbits," including topics such as N rates (are we using too much?), soil health and "regenerative" ag.

1 year ago

42 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 41: Cotton Seed Quality, II

Fred Bourland (University of Arkansas) and John Snider (University of Georgia) join host Steve Brown for another discussion on cotton seed quality. We talk about seed quality variations within the plant, within varieties, the effects of ginning and acid delinting, seed vigor versus seedling vigor and other related issues. This is the second of two sessions on Cotton SEED QUALITY.

1 year ago

53 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 40: Cotton Seed Quality, I

Fred Bourland (University of Arkansas), Camp Hand and John Snider (University of Georgia) and Lori Unruh Snyder (NC State) join host Steve Brown in a detailed discussion on Seed Quality. Subjects include Cotton Incorporated Beltwide Seed Quality Projects 1.0 and 2.0, visual mechanical damage (VMD), seed quality measurements, comparisons with seed in Australia, "seed vigor" versus "seedling vigor" and considerations for planting in 2024. A related discussion will follow in a couple...

1 year ago

1 hour 4 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 39: Cotton Variety Development, Evaluation and Selection

Drs. Mike Jones of Clemson University and Ken Lege of Texas A&M join host Steve Brown of Auburn to discuss methods of variety testing and evaluation as well as the process of variety development at the corporate level. We talk about small plot OVTs versus large scale on-farm trials and the relative strengths of each. Variety selection is extremely important -- study the data!

1 year ago

58 minutes

Cotton Specialists Corner

Episode 38: Cotton Nematode Management Across the U.S. Cotton Belt

Plant Pathologists Kathy Lawrence of Auburn University, Heather Kelly of the University of Tennessee and Terry Wheeler of Texas A&M join host Steve Brown, Extension Cotton Agronomist at Auburn, to discuss nematode management in major regions across the U.S. Topics include nematode species prevalent in respective ares of the Belt, presence by soil type, levels of annual yield loss as well as control measures such as seed treatments, in-furrow and foliar products, considerations for samplin...

1 year ago

59 minutes