CALIFORNIA STATE SUPPORT COMMITTEE

The State Support Program is funded out of Cotton Incorporated's Agricultural Research Budget.  A formula is used to arrive at each cotton belt states annual funding level.  The funding formula allows for each state to receive 7% of Cotton Incorporated's Agricultural Research Budget, based on each states annual contribution to Cotton Incorporated's overall budget for the previous five year period.  High and low years are not included in the weighted average.  The programs mandate is to achieve a stated mission, which is, "to improve the profitability of cotton through the creation and utilization of knowledge in the agricultural sciences".  The program also has a stated vision, which is, "to be the facilitator of progress in cotton production and improvement with the goal of better markets and maximum profitability for upland cotton.

The California State Support Committee is made up of voting members who are both Cotton Board directors and alternates, as well as other distinguished area producers and ginners, who serve at the pleasure of the Chairman.  The committee is also composed of numerous non-voting members who serve in an "Ex-Officio" capacity and bring valuable knowledge and insight to the process and greatly enhance the discussion.  The committee meets twice a year.  Once in the Spring, when the previous years work is reviewed in a classroom setting, once in the fall when Research Funding Proposals (RFP's) are presented and approved for funding for the next calendar year.

Further information about the Beltwide State Support Program can be obtained by going to the Cotton Incorporated website at www.cottoninc.com and clicking on Ag-Research.