Eleven cotton producers from Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas will observe cotton and other agricultural operations in California’s San Joaquin Valley the week of August 1 as part of the National Cotton Council’s 2016 Producer Information Exchange (P.I.E.) Program.
Sponsored by Bayer CropScience LP through a grant to The Cotton Foundation, the P.I.E. is now in its 28th year and has exposed more than 1,100 U.S. cotton producers to innovative production practices in Cotton Belt regions different than their own. Specifically, the program aims to help the cotton producer participants boost their farming efficiency by: 1) gaining new perspectives in such fundamental practices as land preparation, planting, fertilization, pest control, irrigation and harvesting; and 2) observing firsthand the unique ways in which their innovative peers are using current technology. NCC’s Member Services staff, in conjunction with local producer interest organizations, conducts the program, including participant selection.
The participating cotton producers are: Kansas – Jayme Dunn, Santata; Oklahoma – Ron Wollmann, Bessie; and Texas – Corbin Clements, Snyder; Anthony Furgeson, Shallowater; Marcus Galle, Raymondville; Greg Harper, Sudan; Cody Hughes, Sweetwater; Sam Kellermeier, Garden City; David Kubenka, San Angelo; Dane Sanders, Floydada; and Nick Seaton, Meadow.
In this third of four 2016 P.I.E. tours, the group will begin their activities on August 1 in Fresno with a briefing from the California Cotton Ginners/Growers Association and then a tour of Bayer CropScience’s research facility. They also will tour Don Cameron’s Terra Nova Ranch in Helm as well as other cotton operations in the Tranquillity area.
The next day, the group will observe Gilkey Enterprises’ cotton operations in Corcoran and visit other area farms before traveling to Lemoore to see the Droogh Dairy and then to Laton for a tour of Jovie & Mark Rosa Farms and other farms in that area.
On August 3, the producers will tour the Quady Winery in Madera, then go to Los Banos to see tomato processing at the Ingomar Packing Company and meet with local cotton producers. The group will conclude their California tour on August 4 with a look at table grape harvesting at the Kirschermann Farms in Shafter and a visit to the Farmers Coop Almond Huller in nearby Wasco.
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