In order to offer US cotton growers taking part in the voluntary Climate Smart Cotton Programme more specialised and localised support, the US Cotton Trust Protocol is expanding its field-level workforce.
Field-level growers will receive assistance from the enlarged US Cotton Trust Protocol team with completing their Trust Protocol enrollment, data input, and application processing for the Climate Smart Cotton Programme, which ends on 30th April.
In addition to offering industry information and networks, the field-level grower enrolment specialists will tailor their services to meet the specific requirements of the cotton belt region they service.
Alongside Tillman White, who will serve as the programme manager, Charles “Chaz” Holt, director of field programmes, will serve as the team’s leader.
“Each region of the cotton belt presents its own distinct set of opportunities and challenges, with no one-size-fits-all approach to production,” said Daren Abney, executive director of the US Cotton Trust Protocol.
The Climate Smart Cotton Programme was launched in 2023 and is now accepting applications until midnight on April 30, 2023. It provides financial and technical assistance to reduce risks related to climate smart agriculture practices, which may lead to cost savings and increased efficiency. It intends to enhance reporting and make it easier for companies and retailers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Almost 1.7 million planted cotton acres, or nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of the cotton belt, were included in the Trust Protocol for the 2023 crop year. Growers who finished their enrolment in 2023 will need to re-enroll for the 2024 crop year, according to the Trust Protocol.
Out of the 1,650 farming businesses available, the Climate Smart Cotton Programme is reported to have already approved 778 applications, including 330 from previously underserved communities.
