Monsanto Media Days – Chance For Dialogue

A couple of weeks ago I had a chance to participate in Monsanto’s Media Days event in St. Louis, which brought together about 25 ag media representatives from across the country. The two-and-a-half day session created an opportunity for the company to share what’s coming in the pipeline in terms of new products and initiatives. But it also gave the media a chance to engage in interesting interactive sessions with Monsanto leadership on a variety of issues.

I have attended several of these Monsanto events through the years, and I am always impressed by the candor expressed by company officials. No topic or question was off limits during the sessions. From Supreme Court rulings to dealing with world hunger, there was a chance to engage in some lively debate.

For instance, it couldn’t have been easy for Monsanto officials to have to deal with the USDA-APHIS decision to conduct a full environmental impact statement (EIS) on soybean, corn and cotton plants designed to tolerate 2,4-D and dicamba herbicides. The move could delay the introduction of new products containing these herbicide-tolerant traits to the market for an additional two to four years. Shannon Hauf, Monsanto’s Global Dicamba and Weed Management Lead, fielded questions on the topic and continued to express confidence that approval will eventually occur. She couldn’t give any timetable on how long it would take for the approval, but she said it could work to Monsanto’s advantage by giving more time to show that these products are safe – and desperately needed by farmers.

Hauf ought to think about applying for a job as the press secretary at the White House. I have never seen any company spokesman show more poise and quick thinking in response to difficult questions. Yes, she was disappointed about the ruling, but she quickly pointed out that the delay merely means that Monsanto can bolster its case and present an even stronger argument for dicamba-tolerant products. If somebody were writing a manual on how a company official should deal with a crisis, you couldn’t have found a better example than what Hauf offered in her remarks.

This was just one example of the interesting interaction that occurred at this meeting. During one afternoon session, two to three Monsanto officials were stationed at each of eight circular tables. The media reps spent about 20 minutes at each table and were free to ask any question of the group. During one of the sessions, a reporter asked a Monsanto official what it was like to engage the media in these kinds of unscripted sessions. The Monsanto official replied that it was beneficial to share information with the media – while also trying to gauge what was on the minds of reporters.

This kind of dialogue is beneficial to all parties. First, it gives the media access to more information to generate the best possible stories to readers. Second, it builds trust between the media and a company.

In the end, everybody’s objectives were realized.

Monsanto Media Days – Chance For Dialogue

A couple of weeks ago I had a chance to participate in Monsanto’s Media Days event in St. Louis, which brought together about 25 ag media representatives from across the country. The two-and-a-half day session created an opportunity for the company to share what’s coming in the pipeline in terms of new products and initiatives. But it also gave the media a chance to engage in interesting interactive sessions with Monsanto leadership on a variety of issues.

I have attended several of these Monsanto events through the years, and I am always impressed by the candor expressed by company officials. No topic or question was off limits during the sessions. From Supreme Court rulings to dealing with world hunger, there was a chance to engage in some lively debate.

For instance, it couldn’t have been easy for Monsanto officials to have to deal with the USDA-APHIS decision to conduct a full environmental impact statement (EIS) on soybean, corn and cotton plants designed to tolerate 2,4-D and dicamba herbicides. The move could delay the introduction of new products containing these herbicide-tolerant traits to the market for an additional two to four years. Shannon Hauf, Monsanto’s Global Dicamba and Weed Management Lead, fielded questions on the topic and continued to express confidence that approval will eventually occur. She couldn’t give any timetable on how long it would take for the approval, but she said it could work to Monsanto’s advantage by giving more time to show that these products are safe – and desperately needed by farmers.

Hauf ought to think about applying for a job as the press secretary at the White House. I have never seen any company spokesman show more poise and quick thinking in response to difficult questions. Yes, she was disappointed about the ruling, but she quickly pointed out that the delay merely means that Monsanto can bolster its case and present an even stronger argument for dicamba-tolerant products. If somebody were writing a manual on how a company official should deal with a crisis, you couldn’t have found a better example than what Shannon Hauf offered in her remarks.

This was just one example of the interesting interaction that occurred at this meeting. During one afternoon session, two to three Monsanto officials were stationed at each of eight circular tables. The media reps spent about 20 minutes at each table and were free to ask any question of the group. During one of the sessions, a reporter asked an Monsanto official what it was like to engage the media in these kinds of unscripted sessions. The Monsanto official replied that it was beneficial to share information with the media – while also being able to gauge what was on the minds of reporters.

This kind of dialogue is beneficial to all parties. First, it gives the media access to more information to generate the best possible stories to readers. Second, it builds trust between the media and a company.

In the end, everybody’s objectives were realized.

Memorial Day Always A Special Holiday

Some of you may get tired of how I always have to do some reminiscing on Memorial Day weekend. But that’s OK. If the worst thing anybody can say about me is that I spend too much time talking about this special holiday, I have no problems whatsoever. The fact is, I always remember some event or person during this weekend that makes me appreciate our folks who have served in the military. And, in my case, we’re talking about my grandfather William C. Horton, my father Roy T. Horton, my uncle Dick Horton and my son Jeff. Each served this country honorably, and once a year it renews my sense of patriotism when I think about them – and anyone else who has worn a military uniform.

Many of you can recall when I’ve written in Cotton Farming magazine about my family’s connection to the military. My grandfather served in the Spanish-American War. He served with Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders more than 100 years ago. My father was a career non-commissioned officer in the Air Force and a top turret gunner on a B-17 that flew bombing missions over Germany, Italy and other parts of Europe during World War II. Finally, my son Jeff was an Army officer who spent seven and a half years in the military. He served as a medical evacuation helicopter pilot and did two tours in Afghanistan and one tour in Iraq. He’s now an airline pilot and lives in Virginia.

I have friends say that it would be too stressful to have a son serving in a war on the other side of the world. They can hardly bear the thought of such a scenario. I try to respect their opinion, but, at the same time, I also am proud that we have young men and women who are brave enough to serve this country – no matter how much danger is involved. A high price has to be paid to defend this country’s freedom. And, too often we tend to forget that our soldiers are there on the front lines around the world defending what we hold most sacred – freedom and liberty. I can remember talking to soldiers who said they only had one request of the American people: “Don’t forget us.”

For that reason, I never let a Memorial Day pass by without joining my 85-year-old mother as we visit Memorial Park and National Cemetery in Memphis. We place flags at the gravesites of my father, uncle and grandfather. And we always pause to look at other flags that have been put out to honor our fallen soldiers. It gives us a sense of pride to see so many flags displayed in such a spectacular fashion.

If we are true patriots, we should remember soldiers every day of the year. But, on Memorial Day, amidst the backyard pool parties, barbecue cookouts, parades and fireworks displays, here’s hoping that all of us will take a few minutes and think about what our lives would be like if we didn’t have brave soldiers serving our country around the world. Life would be very different.

The next time you’re walking through an airport or restaurant and see a group of soldiers, stop and shake their hands. You’ll be amazed at how it makes you feel. The soldiers will appreciate it, and you’ll know what it feels like to see American heroes up close and personal.

May we never forget our soldiers. They are simply the best and bravest that America has to offer.

Floods Remind Us Of How It Was In 2011

As I continue to watch these television reports of flooded areas of the Mississippi River in the upper Midwest, I am reminded of what happened just two years ago here in the Mid-South. And I am hopeful that I won’t see what many of us experienced during that forgettable spring. If you lived here in Memphis, it’s hard to forget how the Mississippi River went over its banks and flooded farmland in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi. Some people called it a “100-year flood,” but maybe it was premature to describe it that way. Regardless of the adjectives used, it was a difficult time for farmers who had acreage near Ole Man River. Here we are two years later, and suddenly we’re seeing a repeat of that unforgettable spring.

If we learned anything about that flood of 2011, it’s that whatever happens in the upper Midwest eventually makes it way south. Sooner or later, we will probably see tributaries of the Mississippi overflow their banks. Let’s just hope that the severity of the floods won’t cause a major backup into these smaller rivers. Two years ago, I recall visiting Brian McDaniel, a cotton farmer near Forrest City, Ark. He saw his acreage flooded in early May, and his situation looked hopeless at that point. He had already forward contracted his crop, and as he surveyed his acreage in May, his prospects looked bleak.

But, then, something remarkable happened. The water began to recede, and Brian decided to roll the dice. He figured that he had to replant during that first week of June and hope that he could salvage something out of his crop. Some of his neighbors thought he was crazy, but Brian just kept going forward. When I visited him in mid-July, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Due to some hot temperatures in June and early July, the late-planted crop had made a miraculous comeback. Call it divine intervention or just a plain old miracle.

Eventually, Brian harvested a pretty good crop in the fall and was able to survive. This story proved one thing to me. Even recordbreaking floods can’t snuff out the hopes of a farmer who strategically finds a way to deal with such a disaster. Sometimes happy endings do occur after a flood or any other kind of natural disaster. Nobody is saying that the floods north of Memphis will eventually resemble what we saw in 2011. But, if they do, don’t be surprised if farmers find a way to navigate their way toward delivering a crop in the fall.

It’s been done before, and it can happen again.

Floods Remind Us Of 2011

As I continue to watch these television reports of flooded areas of the Mississippi River in the upper Midwest, I am reminded of what happened just two years ago here in the Mid-South. And I am hopeful that I won’t see what many of us experienced during that unforgettable spring. If you lived here in Memphis, it’s not hard to recall how the Mississippi River went over its banks and flooded farmland in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi. Some people called it a “100-year flood.” Regardless of the adjectives used, it was a difficult time for farmers who had acreage near Ole Man River. Here we are two years later, and suddenly we’re seeing a repeat of that historic spring.

If we learned anything about that flood of 2011, it’s that whatever happens in the upper Midwest eventually makes it way south. Sooner or later, we will probably see tributaries of the Mississippi overflowing their banks. Let’s just hope that the severity of the floods won’t cause a major backup into these smaller rivers. Two years ago, I also remember visiting Brian McDaniel, a cotton farmer near Forrest City, Ark. He saw his acreage flooded in early May, and his situation looked hopeless at that point. He had already forward contracted his crop, and as he surveyed his acreage in May, his prospects appeared bleak.

But, then, something remarkable happened. The water began to recede, and Brian decided to roll the dice. He figured that he had to replant during that first week of June and hope that he could salvage something out of his crop. Some of his neighbors thought he was crazy, but Brian just kept going forward. When I visited him in mid-July, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Due to some hot temperatures in June and early July, the late-planted crop had made a miraculous comeback. Call it divine intervention or just a plain old miracle.

Eventually, Brian harvested a pretty good crop in the fall and was able to survive. This story proved one thing to me. Even recordbreaking floods can’t snuff out the hopes of a farmer who strategically finds a way to deal with such a disaster. Sometimes happy endings do occur after a flood or any other kind of natural disaster. Nobody is saying that the floods north of Memphis will eventually resemble what we saw in 2011. But, if they do, don’t be surprised if farmers find a way to navigate their way toward delivering a crop in the fall.

It’s been done before, and it can happen again.

Cotton Still Alive In The Mid-South

Recently, I spent the day in Starkville, Miss., to visit Darrin Dodds, Mississippi’s Extension cotton specialist. It was sunny, but temps barely made it to 40 degrees on the drive down I-55 to Winona and then going east on US 82. It had rained three inches two nights before I made the trip, so every field was soaked with pools of standing water everywhere. Nobody has to be reminded how much cotton acreage has decreased in this state. It was just a few years ago that Mississippi boasted more than one million acres of cotton. That was before the incentive to grow soybeans and corn had arrived in the Magnolia State.

If I had made this trip in early summer, I would have been looking at solid corn and soybean fields on both sides of I-55. That’s the way it’s been for the last few years. The high price of these two commodities – combined with the flexibility of Mid-South farmers – has created a different environment here in this part of the world. The latest word we’re receiving is that Mississippi will plant close to 200,000 acres of cotton this year. That figure by itself is a bit discouraging to anyone who has been involved in cotton production in this state.

However, before anyone becomes too depressed by this fact, take note of this encouraging bit of news. Cotton hasn’t disappeared from Mississippi. An interesting trend has occurred in the last couple of months. For a variety of reasons, cotton prices have rebounded and are now close to 90 cents. This recent surge has caught the attention of a lot of Mississippi and Mid-South farmers. Some of the more optimistic onlookers are saying that prices could head to 95 cents and beyond. That might be a bit optimistic but even Darrin Dodds says he’s hearing from a lot of Mississippi farmers who will try to move more acres into cotton to lock in these prices. This isn’t going to turn into a tidal wave with major acreage shifts for cotton. But it is encouraging that cotton hasn’t been completely forgotten by Mid-South producers.

As we like to say in the business, it’s a start!!!

Another Family Reunion At Mid-South Gin Show

Another Mid-South Farm and Gin Show is in the history book, and congratulations are in order to Show Manager Tim Price and all parties for making it such a productive event after 61 years. Yeah, that’s right. This show has just completed its 61st year, and the diversity of information offered to attendees continues to amaze.

I know I have said this before, but this show has become almost akin to a family reunion of sorts in the cotton industry. Many exhibitors have been in the same location for so many years that it seems impossible to think of them being in a different spot. There is a comfortable feeling about this show, and that is one of its selling points. Business is conducted on the showroom floor because there is a positive atmosphere that fosters this kind of experience.

For instance, our friend Richard Kelley, long-time West Tennessee producer/ginner, was introducing some Australian ginners to various industry leaders on Saturday afternoon at the show. It was obvious that the Australians were enjoying the Southern hospitality, but they also were intrigued at how easy it was to talk to American ginners about issues of mutual interest. I chatted with them for a long time, and they were friendly and inquisitive. Instead of it turning into a technical discussion, the Australians wanted to talk about the congeniality of their American counterparts at the Memphis show.

We didn’t get into an in-depth discussion about the difference between Australian barbecue and Memphis barbecue, but we could’ve spent another hour talking about that topic, too.

Elsewhere, you could see similar examples of how important information was being exchanged. Some farmers and ginners attend this show every year, and this is the one time I get to see them. I find out who’s gotten married in the family and who is graduating from high school and college. We exchange business cards, and I get to add more names to my email list.

As big and complex as the cotton industry has become through the years, one fact remains the same. Folks in the cotton industry are like a big family. They love visiting with friends – even if it’s only for one weekend in Memphis. When the show concludes late on Saturday afternoon, we all bid farewell and look forward to next year – or perhaps the next industry event when we’ll see each other.

The Mid-South Farm and Gin Show is about friendships that are sustained through the years. The 2013 event continued that tradition.

More Rainfall Needed For Texas Farmers

Recently, I made a quick trip to Lubbock, Texas, for a Water/Weed Summit sponsored by Monsanto and Deltapine, and one image remains etched in my memory during a three-day visit. Even though this is the middle of winter, you can tell that the drought conditions still persist in this region. Sure, there have been some sporadic rainfall events in the past couple of months and even some snow. But subsoil moisture levels still need more rain before the 2013 cotton crop can be planted.

Even though this is early February, you can look at the Lubbock area from an airplane or up close from the highway and sense that the drought is still prevalent in this region.

It is ironic that the two focal points of this meeting were water and weed resistance. A crowd of more than 125 attended at the Overton Hotel, and I was impressed with the attitude of those farmers there. Not only were they optimistic about receiving enough rainfall to help with subsoil moisture, but they reflected a proactive attitude about weed resistance and other topics confronting them this year.

There wasn’t any gloom and doom. Nobody was overly complaining about the situation. Instead, most farmers there were talking about strategies that would be a good fit in this kind of environment. In other words, they were trying to find ways to plant the right variety, use the best precision ag technique and maximize water efficiency. It was a classic example of how Texas farmers might be the most resolute and focused in the country. Memories of the 2011 drought are still fresh, and everyone knows that 2012 was only slightly better. But that hasn’t slowed down Texas farmers. They keep trying to make the best of the situation.

Even when a National Weather Service official spoke to the group about future weather trends for Texas, it didn’t seem to faze the audience. These farmers knew what was about to be told to them. An outsider might have gotten the impression that High Plains cotton farmers are banking on the weather experts being wrong on their forecasts. After all, the El Nino system didn’t amount to much in the past six months. Maybe some of these weather systems will dip into West Texas and deliver much needed rainfall before planting begins.

When it comes to weather predictions, expect the unexpected. That’s what farmers in Texas are hoping for this spring and summer.

In retrospect, it’s worth noting that even with the conditions of 2012, gins in the state processed more than 5 million bales. With any kind of improvement in precipitation, that number will increase. We have our fingers crossed.

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More Rainfall Needed For Texas Farmers

Recently, I made a quick trip to Lubbock, Texas, for a Water/Weed Summit sponsored by Monsanto and Deltapine, and one image remains etched in my memory during a three-day visit. Even though this is the middle of winter, you can tell that the drought conditions still persist in this region. Sure, there have been some sporadic rainfall events in the past couple of months and even some snow. But subsoil moisture levels still need more rain before the 2013 cotton crop can be planted.

Even though this is early February, you can look at the Lubbock area from an airplane or up close from the highway and see that the drought is still prevalent in this region. Some areas looks parched.

It is ironic that the two focal points of this meeting were water and weed resistance. A crowd of more than 125 attended at the Overton Hotel, and I was impressed with the attitude of those farmers there. Not only were they optimistic about receiving enough rainfall to help with subsoil moisture, but they reflected a proactive attitude about weed resistance and other topics confronting them this year.

There wasn’t any gloom and doom. Nobody was overly complaining about the situation. Instead, most farmers there were talking about strategies that would be a good fit in this kind of environment. In other words, they were trying to find ways to plant the right variety, use the best precision ag technique and maximize water efficiency. It was a classic example of how Texas farmers might be the most resolute and focused in the country. Memories of the 2011 drought are still fresh, and everyone knows that 2012 was only slightly better. But that hasn’t slowed down Texas farmers. They keep trying to make the best of the situation.

Even when a National Weather Service official spoke to the group about future weather trends for Texas, it didn’t seem to faze the audience. These farmers knew what was about to be told to them. An outsider might have gotten the impression that High Plains cotton farmers are banking on the weather experts being wrong on their forecasts. After all, the El Nino system didn’t amount to much in the past six months. Maybe some of these weather systems will dip into West Texas and deliver much needed rainfall before planting begins.

When it comes to weather predictions, expect the unexpected. That’s what farmers in Texas are hoping for this spring and summer.

In retrospect, it’s worth noting that even with the conditions of 2012, gins in the state processed more than 5 million bales. With any kind of improvement in precipitation, that number will increase. We have our fingers crossed.

Salute To Tim White – Consultant Of The Year

For more than a decade, I’ve had the opportunity to interview the Cotton Consultant of the Year winner each year, and it’s a job that I never get tired of. This award, co-sponsored by Cotton Farming and Syngenta, is truly one of the highlights of the year for our magazine. The consultant is one of the most important persons in the cotton industry – mainly because he helps farmers make crucial decisions during the year. Without consultants, production agriculture would look a lot different today. They are simply the eyes and ears for the farmer and monitor the progress of the crop every day – whether it’s walking the turnrow, soil sampling or doing research on a particular problem.

Our winner for 2012 is Tim White of Jonesville, La. Back in October, I drove from Memphis to Louisiana to spend some time with Tim and his wife Christie. It was a wonderful trip, and I now have a greater appreciation for the job he’s been doing for Louisiana cotton producers for more than 20 years. As you’ll notice in the special four-page section in our January issue, Tim knew at an early age that being a consultant is what he wanted to pursue for a career in agriculture. He had interned with Agricultural Management Services (AMS), one of the most respected consultant groups in the state. Following his graduation from Louisiana Tech University, he wound up accepting a job with AMS, and it’s a decision he’s never regretted. It’s hard to sum up Tim’s personality in a few words. But suffice it to say that he is one of the most energetic and positive persons I’ve ever been around. No matter what kind of challenge a farmer is facing with his crop, Tim will find a way to find a solution. You might call him the eternal optimist.

He certainly was surrounded by excellent mentors when he started his consultant career. You can’t find better teachers than Roger Carter, Ray Young, Grady Coburn and Harold Lambert. Those are some of the consultants who helped Tim learn the business, and how could anybody not be proud to be associated with such respected industry leaders?

My lasting memory of Tim and wife Christie is how they rolled out the welcome mat when I finally arrived at their house after the long drive from Memphis. I got lost several times before I eventually rolled into their driveway that evening. Christie prepared a wonderful dinner for the three of us, and we spent the rest of the evening talking about their individual careers as consultant and high school counselor. We shared stories about people we’ve known in the past 20 years and how special it is to be a part of the cotton industry. It was an opportunity to learn more about Tim’s consultant career and why he is respected by so many of his colleagues.

When I turned off the tape recorder that evening, I knew I had enough information to write a book. Unfortunately, we only had room for a four-page salute to Tim in the January issue of Cotton Farming. If you see Tim anytime soon, be sure and take some time to chat with him. He joins an impressive list of previous winners of this award, and he’s deserving of the recognition.

Congratulations again to Tim for being honored as the 2012 Cotton Consultant of the Year.