The National Cotton Council (NCC) of
America looks forward to working again with US Agriculture Secretary appointee
Tom Vilsack on matters ranging from sustainable, climate smart agriculture to
international trade opportunities and the farm safety net.
NCC Chairman, Kent Fountain, a
Georgia cotton producer and ginner, said, “The US cotton industry believes that
Tom Vilsack has the credentials necessary to help restore the economic health
of our nation’s rural sector that has suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. We
also are optimistic he will work to ensure that Sunbelt farmers’ needs are
fairly considered in USDA policy decisions.â€Â
“Many members of the cotton industry
had the opportunity to work closely with Secretary Vilsack during his previous
tenure and found he was open-minded and solution-oriented,†Fountain said. He
noted that during his previous eight years as agriculture secretary, Vilsack
also proved himself “to be a very capable leader and a champion of American
agriculture and this nation’s farmers.â€Â
The NCC is also optimistic about
working with Katherine Tai, an attorney with the House Ways and Means Committee
who incoming President Biden has nominated to be US Trade Representative (USTR)
for his administration. Tai is the former chief counsel on China trade
enforcement at the Office of USTR during the Obama administration. The cotton
and textile industries are acutely focused on the importance of fair and
reciprocal trading relationships that offer opportunities for the cotton
industry to expand exports of cotton fibre, yarn and fabrics.
As the central organisation for the US
cotton industry, the Memphis-based NCC serves as the unifying force in working
with policymakers to ensure cotton’s interests are heard. The NCC’s mission is
ensuring the industry’s seven segments’ ability to compete effectively and
profitably in the raw cotton, oilseed and US-manufactured product markets at
home and abroad.