Twenty cotton producers from the Mid-South and Southeast will observe
cotton and other agriculture-related operations in California’s San Joaquin Valley the week of July 28 as
part of the National Cotton Council’s 2024 Producer Information Exchange (P.I.E.) Program.
After this year’s two P.I.E. tours, more than 1,200 U.S. cotton producers will have been exposed
to innovative production practices in Cotton Belt regions different than their own. Launched in 1989, the
P.I.E. program is sponsored by BASF Agricultural Solutions through a grant to The Cotton Foundation.
The P.I.E. program has a specific goal of helping U.S. cotton producers maximize production
efficiency and improve yields and fiber quality by 1) gaining new perspectives in such fundamental
practices as land preparation, planting, fertilization, pest control, irrigation and harvesting; and 2)
observing diverse farming practices and the creative ways in which other resourceful producers have
adopted new and existing technology. The program provides another beneficial opportunity as it fosters
the sharing of information among the participants within their own Cotton Belt region as they travel
together during the week.
The NCC’s Member Services staff, in conjunction with local producer interest organizations,
coordinates the P.I.E. program’s tours and participant selection.
The tour participants are: Alabama – William Miller, Grand Bay; Jonathan Sanders, Brundidge;
John Watts, Selma; Arkansas – Clay Day, Tillar; William Jackson, Leachville; Georgia – Charles
Nevil, Metter; Samuel Nunn, Madison; Louisiana – James Parker and Nicholas Van Mol, both of Lake
Providence; Mississippi – Lewis Barksdale, Clarksdale; Gary Dyksterhouse, Greenwood; Missouri
William Hunter, Bell City; Christopher Leible, Dexter; North Carolina – Johnathan Kilpatrick, Dover;
Jerry Moore, Garysburg; South Carolina – Malcolm Calhoun, Jr., Cilo; Tennessee – Willie German, Jr.
and Tommy Moore, both of Somerville; Texas – Ryan Williamson, New Braunfels; and Virginia –
Jason Cobb, Franklin.
These cotton producers will begin their activities in Fresno on July 29 with a briefing from the
California Ginners/Growers Association, followed by a tour of the Jordan Agriculture Research Center.
Their agenda also includes exploring George Soares’ agave and pistachio operations in Hanford, as well
as a guided tour of the Horizon Nut Company in Tulare.
On the following day, the group is scheduled to observe the BASF Field Trial, tour the cotton
operations of Gilkey Enterprises in Corcoran, and explore additional area farms before traveling to
Riverdale, where they will tour a hemp processing facility.
On July 31, the producers will look at table grape/almond harvesting at Kirschenmann Farms in
Bakersfield. The group will conclude their California tour on August 1 in Los Banos with a look at
tomato processing at the Ingomar Packing Company, followed by a tour of Delta Farms where they will
meet local growers.
In this season’s other P.I.E. tour, set for August 4-9, Southwest and West producers will travel to
the Southeast and observe farming operations in Georgia.
