Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has announced the appointment of 13 members, 13 alternate members and one advisor to serve on the Cotton Board. The following appointees will serve three-year terms ending Dec. 31, 2020.

Perdue said that the Cotton Board carries out research and promotional activities that strengthen the competitive position of cotton by expanding demand in domestic and foreign markets, improving fibre quality, and lowering costs of production. These appointees represent a cross section of the industry, and the cotton industry will be well served by their work.

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, The Cotton Board keeps US producers and importers of cotton updated on the innovative developments in the program. The Cotton Research and Promotion Program is designed to advance the position of cotton in the marketplace. It is funded by assessments on all domestically produced cotton and imports of foreign-produced cotton and cotton-containing products.

Cotton Board Chairman George LaCour Jr., a producer from Morganza said that they look forward to working with the new appointees and gaining their diverse perspectives about the activities of their Board and industry, as well as leaning on the experience and knowledge of the members and alternates who have been re-appointed to serve.

The Cotton Board will hold its next board meeting at the end of February to discuss the strategic direction of the Program for the coming year. At their upcoming board meeting they include an orientation process for the new appointees that will educate them about the Program and ensure they are able to contribute immediately to the Board, said Cotton Board chairman, George LaCour Jr.

The Cotton Research and Promotion Act of 1966 (Act) authorized a national cotton research and promotion program that is both industry-operated and funded. Since 1966, Congress has authorized 22 industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.