Face To Face
With Senator Blanche Lincoln
Tommy Horton
Can cotton recover and regain some stability in the future?
I think there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about cotton's future. Obviously, we aren't out of the woods yet on the economic recovery. We have to be pragmatic because I don't think we can really spend our way out of this recession. I do think there is hope for cotton's recovery. We have to look at industries where we can make a difference and where we can be competitive in the global market. It's true that the general public probably doesn't have an appreciation for cotton products now or the problems confronting our industry, but I have a lot of faith in our future.
As the new Farm Bill is being implemented, can you appreciate the challenges that producers are facing as they try to understand all of its provisions?
We are slowly but surely getting there on some of these things. We've been trying to work with USDA, and the initial problem was that there wasn't anybody over there at the agency after the recent election. You had to get people appointed and confirmed.
I know this, the Farm Bill is a five-year contract with farmers and our growers, and they should be able to count on the government to hold up its end of the bargain. I understand there is still some confusion on how a number of provisions in the Farm Bill will be implemented, payment limits in particular. I have worked with like-minded members in the Senate and House to ensure that USDA implements the Farm Bill as it was intended, and you can be sure we'll continue to do so. It has been a fight, though, and I expect we'll still run into issues moving forward with implementation.
source : cottonfarming
With Senator Blanche Lincoln
Tommy Horton
Can cotton recover and regain some stability in the future?
I think there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about cotton's future. Obviously, we aren't out of the woods yet on the economic recovery. We have to be pragmatic because I don't think we can really spend our way out of this recession. I do think there is hope for cotton's recovery. We have to look at industries where we can make a difference and where we can be competitive in the global market. It's true that the general public probably doesn't have an appreciation for cotton products now or the problems confronting our industry, but I have a lot of faith in our future.
As the new Farm Bill is being implemented, can you appreciate the challenges that producers are facing as they try to understand all of its provisions?
We are slowly but surely getting there on some of these things. We've been trying to work with USDA, and the initial problem was that there wasn't anybody over there at the agency after the recent election. You had to get people appointed and confirmed.
I know this, the Farm Bill is a five-year contract with farmers and our growers, and they should be able to count on the government to hold up its end of the bargain. I understand there is still some confusion on how a number of provisions in the Farm Bill will be implemented, payment limits in particular. I have worked with like-minded members in the Senate and House to ensure that USDA implements the Farm Bill as it was intended, and you can be sure we'll continue to do so. It has been a fight, though, and I expect we'll still run into issues moving forward with implementation.
source : cottonfarming
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