The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks nominations of domestic cotton producers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee/Kentucky, Texas, Virginia, and importers of cotton and cotton-containing products for positions on The Cotton Board.
The producers and importers will fill positions for 18 members and 18 alternates. USDA will appoint members and alternates to serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2028, except for one member position from Texas and one alternate position from N.C. who each will serve a one-year term ending Dec. 31, 2026.
Certified producer organizations (CPOs) and certified importer organizations (CIOs) will hold caucuses to nominate two qualified persons for each open position in their respective industry segments. Producer caucuses are scheduled as follows and all times are local times:
- Alabama: Mon., July 14 at 3:00 p.m.
- Florida: Mon., July 14 at 3:00 p.m.
- Georgia: Mon., July 14 at 3:00 p.m.
- Kansas: Mon., July 21 at 9:45 a.m.
- Missouri: Fri., July 11 at 11:00 a.m.
- New Mexico: Wed., July 16 at 10:00 a.m.
- North Carolina: Mon., July 14 at 3:00 p.m.
- Oklahoma: Tues., July 22 at 10:00 a.m.
- South Carolina: Mon., July 14 at 3:00 p.m.
- Tennessee/ Kentucky.: Fri., July 25 at 1:00 p.m.
- Texas: Thurs., July 24 at 10:45 a.m.
- Virginia: Mon., July 14 at 3:00 p.m.
An importers caucus is scheduled for Wed., July 8 at 11:00 a.m. PT/1:00 p.m. CT/2:00 p.m. ET.
For nominating and caucus information, including organizations seeking certification and a list of CPOs and CIOs, contact Cotton Research and Promotion at (503) 313-2061 or CottonRP@usda.gov.
Bill Gillon, President & CEO of The Cotton Board, said “Serving on The Cotton Board is a meaningful way to contribute to the strength and future of our industry. We look forward to seeing a broad range of nominees from different backgrounds who bring fresh perspectives and a shared commitment to advancing cotton through research and promotion. Producer and importer participation is vital to the success of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program, and we are grateful to those willing to step forward and serve,” said Gillon.
Contact: Stacey Gorman, Director of Communications, 901-233-9356, sgorman@cottonboard.org
About the Cotton Board: The Cotton Research & Promotion Act established the Cotton Board as a quasigovernmental, non-profit entity to serve as the administrator of the Cotton Research & Promotion Program. Funded by America’s cotton producers and importers through the cotton check-off, the Program’s research and promotion activities are conducted worldwide by Cotton Incorporated, the Cotton Board’s sole-source contracting organization, to increase the demand for and improve the market position of cotton. The Cotton Research & Promotion Program continues to work in all areas of cotton’s pipeline – from the field to the consumer – to keep cotton the number one fiber choice in the U.S. For more information about the Cotton Board and the innovative activities stemming from the Program, visit www.cottonboard.org.
