During its Annual Meeting in Durham, NC, The Cotton Board has voted to recommend Cotton Incorporated’s proposed 2018 budget of US$ 74 million to the US Secretary of Agriculture. The Cotton Board also elected Louisiana cotton producer George LaCour, Jr. as Chairman of the Board and elected an entire slate of new Officers for the 2017/2018 Program Year.

The US$ 74 million 2018 proposed budget represents an increase of US$ 4 million compared with the 2017 budget. It is the first increase in Cotton Incorporated’s annual budget since 2013.

2018 budget

The Cotton Research and Promotion Plan for 2018 continues the strategic direction set by Cotton Incorporated in 2017 and includes a focus on four major initiatives that cross all departments of Cotton Incorporated: 

• Performance Cotton (the activewear market)
• Sustainability
• Comparative Marketing
• Message Amplification

The 2018 budget also contains initiatives focused on production costs and producer margins. The budget and plan, along with The Cotton Board’s recommendation of approval, will be forwarded to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for final approval.

New officers

During its Business Session, The Cotton Board elected new officers to guide the Program, including George LaCour, Jr. to serve as Chairman for the 2017/2018 Program year. LaCour is a cotton producer from Morganza, Lousiana. As General Manager of the farming partnership GNG Farms, LaCour has overseen production on over 5,000 acres in Pointe Coupee Parish for the last 30 years.

In addition to cotton, his crops include corn, soybeans, wheat, sugar cane, pecans, crawfish and timber. He has served in leadership positions throughout the cotton industry and has been honoured with various awards for his efforts in cotton production, ginning, and conservation.

“I am honoured to be given this opportunity to help lead this industry, and I will work hard on behalf of the cotton producers and importers who invest in the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. Producers are facing significant challenges this marketing year, and the Program is responding with initiatives intended to help margins in the short-term while staying focused on long-term demand,” commented George LaCour.

Cotton Board

The full slate of newly elected Cotton Board officers is as follows: George LaCour Jr., Producer from Morganza, Louisiana, Chairman; Peter McGrath, Importer from Dallas, Texas, Vice Chairman; Jeff Posey, Producer from Roby, Texas, Secretary; and Jimmy Webb, Producer from Leary, Georgia, Treasurer.

The Cotton Research & Promotion Act established the Cotton Board as a quasi-governmental, non-profit entity to serve as the administrator of the Cotton Research & Promotion Program. Funded by America’s cotton producers and importers through the cotton check-off, the Program’s research and promotion activities are conducted worldwide by Cotton Incorporated, the Cotton Board’s sole-source contracting organisation, to increase the demand for and improve the market position of cotton.

www.cottonboard.org