The 2023 Beltwide Cotton Conferences (BWCC), set for Jan. 10-12 at the New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans, LA, will offer attendees timely updates on the latest research, technology, and issues affecting U.S. cotton production and processing.

The BWCC, coordinated by the National Cotton Council, annually brings together university and USDA researchers, regulatory agencies, Extension personnel/agents, consultants, and industry sales/support personnel to exchange information about new products and production/processing systems that can be tailored to individual farming operations for maximum efficiency.

Registration is now open via the BWCC homepage and clicking on the registration tab. The homepage also includes links to more information about the forum, including housing reservations and an updated program.

Registration costs for the 2023 BWCC before Dec. 14 are:

• $200 for NCC/Cotton Foundation members, university and USDA researchers, Extension personnel, and associations
• $500 for non-U.S. research, Extension, associations, and consultants
• $400 for non-NCC/Foundation members
• $80 for producers, independent crop consultants, and students.

On-site conference self-registration kiosks will be available beginning on the evening of Jan. 9. NCC staff will be available beginning the morning of Jan. 10 to help attendees needing assistance with registration and name badge printing.

The BWCC’s Consultants Conference begins the afternoon of Jan. 10 and extends through the morning of Jan. 11.

“Consultants and others with a vested interest in improving production efficiency are encouraged to attend the Consultants Conference, which has become a popular BWCC session,” said Lauren Krogman, NCC Marketing & Processing Manager and BWCC Coordinator. “Topics being considered are updates on ThryvOn cotton, herbicide resistance, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, changes in weather patterns and the impact on crops, regulatory updates and pesticide impacts from the Endangered Species Act, new precision agriculture technologies, impacts of climate, retail inventory and supply chain status of fertilizer and chemistries, and dicamba usage.

The BWCC’s 12 cotton technical conferences – now including the Cotton Sustainability Conference – will provide findings from current research and updates on emerging technology aimed at elevating U.S. cotton production and processing efficiency. Those sessions will meet concurrently beginning the morning of Jan. 11 and conclude by noon on Jan. 12.

The Cotton Sustainability Conference will focus on the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, including multiple panel discussions with many name brands and industry leaders, as well as sustainability experts.

Presentations on data analytics, robotics, remote sensing, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other related topics are planned for the Cotton Engineering Systems Conference.

Based on information provided by the National Cotton Council