Clemson announces 2025 South Carolina Cotton Growers Meeting

SANTEE, S.C. - Cotton growers can learn about the current crop situation and price outlook as well as new varieties during the 2025 South Carolina Cotton Growers Meeting slated for Jan. 28 in Santee, South Carolina.

The meeting gets underway with registration at 8:15 a.m. at the Santee Conference Center, 1737 Bass Drive, Santee. Frank Rogers, chairman of the South Carolina Cotton Board, kicks off the first morning session at 9 a.m. with a welcome and update from the Cotton Board followed by reports from South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers and Tas Smith, vice president of producer affairs for the National Cotton Council.

Cody Simpson, chief executive assistant and agriculture advisor for Gov. Henry McMaster, will give an update from the governor's office. Nathan Smith, Clemson Extension economist, will give a cotton situation and price outlook for 2025.

The second morning session includes a report from Gaylon Morgan, director of agronomy and weed control for Cotton Incorporated. Jane Dever, director of the Pee Dee Research and Education Center, will follow with a presentation on navigating cotton research through seed industry and public breeding transitions.

The morning sessions end with a report from Cory Heaton, Clemson Extension state wildlife specialist, on the influence of deer pressure on South Carolina cotton.

Following lunch, Maryn Findley, grower enrollment specialist with the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, will give updates on the program. Mike Jones, Clemson Extension cotton specialist, will talk about the 2024 cotton crop, as well as give an update on new varieties growers can expect to see coming soon.

Information about new cotton varieties for the southeastern United States will also be delivered by industry representatives: Will Grover of BASF, Brady Arthur of Americot, James Bookhart of Bayer Crop Science and Shawn Butler of Phytogen.

The meeting wraps up with a discussion about new developments in the cotton industry. It is expected to end at 2:45 p.m.

For information, contact Mike Jones at [email protected].

-END-