Mid-South, Southeast Cotton Producers to See San Joaquin Valley Agriculture

July 24, 2024
Contact: Marjory Walker
(901) 274-9030

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Twenty cotton producers from the Mid-South and Southeast will observe cotton and other agriculture-related operations in California's San Joaquin Valley the week of July 28 as part of the National Cotton Council's 2024 Producer Information Exchange (P.I.E.) Program.

After this year's two P.I.E. tours, more than 1,200 U.S. cotton producers will have been exposed to innovative production practices in Cotton Belt regions different than their own. Launched in 1989, the P.I.E. program is sponsored by BASF Agricultural Solutions through a grant to The Cotton Foundation.

The P.I.E. program has a specific goal of helping U.S. cotton producers maximize production efficiency and improve yields and fiber quality by 1) gaining new perspectives in such fundamental practices as land preparation, planting, fertilization, pest control, irrigation and harvesting; and 2) observing diverse farming practices and the creative ways in which other resourceful producers have adopted new and existing technology. The program provides another beneficial opportunity as it fosters the sharing of information among the participants within their own Cotton Belt region as they travel together during the week.

The NCC's Member Services staff, in conjunction with local producer interest organizations, coordinates the P.I.E. program's tours and participant selection.

The tour participants are: Alabama - William Miller, Grand Bay; Jonathan Sanders, Brundidge; John Watts, Selma; Arkansas - Clay Day, Tillar; William Jackson, Leachville; Georgia - Charles Nevil, Metter; Samuel Nunn, Madison; Louisiana - James Parker and Nicholas Van Mol, both of Lake Providence; Mississippi - Lewis Barksdale, Clarksdale; Gary Dyksterhouse, Greenwood; Missouri -William Hunter, Bell City; Christopher Leible, Dexter; North Carolina - Johnathan Kilpatrick, Dover; Jerry Moore, Garysburg; South Carolina - Malcolm Calhoun, Jr., Cilo; Tennessee - Willie German, Jr. and Tommy Moore, both of Somerville; Texas - Ryan Williamson, New Braunfels; and Virginia - Jason Cobb, Franklin.

These cotton producers will begin their activities in Fresno on July 29 with a briefing from the California Ginners/Growers Association, followed by a tour of the Jordan Agriculture Research Center. Their agenda also includes exploring George Soares' agave and pistachio operations in Hanford, as well as a guided tour of the Horizon Nut Company in Tulare.

On the following day, the group is scheduled to observe the BASF Field Trial, tour the cotton operations of Gilkey Enterprises in Corcoran, and explore additional area farms before traveling to Riverdale, where they will tour a hemp processing facility.

On July 31, the producers will look at table grape/almond harvesting at Kirschenmann Farms in Bakersfield. The group will conclude their California tour on August 1 in Los Banos with a look at tomato processing at the Ingomar Packing Company, followed by a tour of Delta Farms where they will meet local growers.

In this season's other P.I.E. tour, set for August 4-9, Southwest and West producers will travel to the Southeast and observe farming operations in Georgia.