Cotton Research and Promotion Program: Designation of Cotton-Producing States

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending the Cotton Research and Promotion Order (Cotton Order) following a referendum held October 13 through November 10, 2009, in which Upland cotton producers and importers favored the adoption of two amendments to the Cotton Order. The amendments were proposed by AMS to amend the Cotton Order and implement section 14202 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) that amended the Cotton Research and Promotion Act (Cotton Act). The 2008 Farm Bill provided that Kansas, Virginia, and Florida be separate states in the definition of "cotton-producing state" effective beginning with the 2008 crop of cotton. In addition, AMS proposed to amend the definition of "cotton- producing region" for consistency with the changes to the definition of cotton-producing state.