The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol’s mission is to create a standard for U.S. Cotton that is data-powered, traceable by design, and generates a positive impact through the global cotton value system. They were founded with a purpose to ensure contribution to a more sustainable and transparent world by creating positive impact, measuring outcomes, driving innovation and assuring trust in U.S. cotton. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is committed to building a system that benefits everyone, from the farm to the finished product, making U.S. cotton available through a transparent, sustainable process. They do this by keeping their core values at the center of everything they do, focusing on authenticity, innovation and excellence, environmental stewardship, caring of people, and personal and corporate integrity. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol believe in a data-driven approach that helps create a system that is founded in research, evidence, and trust, and benefits all stakeholders across the cotton supply chain.

Join a growing network committed to shaping the future of cotton. Enroll in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol today by visiting https://trustuscotton.org/ to become a member.

The Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (JCAST) held the 5^th Annual Research Showcase at the Jordan Agricultural Research Center at Fresno State this week. Twenty four research project were highlighted at the event which kicked off “Research Week” at Fresno State. Association President/CEO Roger A. Isom and Assistant Vice President of Technical Services Christopher McGlothlin attended the event. One of the featured research projects was the work by Dr. Maggie Ellis on fusarium Race IV on cotton. Specifically, the objective of this particular work is to develop an assay to detect FOV 4 using qPCR. This is extremely critical work for the cotton industry, which has been devastated by the spread of FOV 4 in key cotton growing areas in the San Joaquin Valley. Acknowledged at the event were Cotton Incorporated, California Cotton Alliance and the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association all of whom have funded various aspects of this ongoing critical research. Isom noted “This is a great opportunity to see what is happening at Fresno State in terms of practical and applied research. The Association would like to acknowledge the University for hosting this event and for highlighting these important research projects happening right here in our own back yard!”

Cotton & Coffee is Tomorrow – Tuesday, April 21st, at 7:30 a.m. Central. 

Cotton Incorporated is taking a fresh approach to marketing, one that sharpens its focus, modernizes outreach, and better supports cotton throughout the supply chain. This new strategy is designed to strengthen cotton’s competitiveness and drive meaningful impact for the industry. Join us for Cotton & Coffee on April 21st as we explore the updated marketing approach and what it means for stakeholders of the Cotton Research & Promotion Program. 

Join Zoom Meeting here!

Meeting ID: 854 0783 6276
Passcode: Cotton1

Earlier this week, CCGGA hosted the 2026 Ginners School & Managerial Seminar at the J.G. Boswell Company’s Gin #5 out in Corcoran. Ginning employees were able to hear presentations on Lock Out Tag Out, Hazard Communication, and Fall Protection. Gin employees put their safety knowledge to the test, competing in the Annual Safety Contest Quiz. This year’s test was tightly contested, but ultimately Christian Hernandez of Pacific Ginning took home the top prize.  Managers were able to hear updates from the Association’s President/CEO Roger Isom on 2026 Legislative/Regulatory Updates, Dennis Gallagher of Fisher Phillips on 2026 Updates in Labor Law and from Zenith Agribusiness Solution’s Darren Brown on Workers Comp and Insurance Updates. The Association would like to thank the sponsors for this year’s event: L.P. Brown Company, R&C Supply, Robinson’s Sheet Metal, Samuel Packaging Systems. Additionally, the Association would like to thank the staff at J.G. Boswell for their help in setting up the event, and even providing Juan Velazsco from the Safety Department to provide the Fall Protection training. Lastly, CCGGA would like to thank Western Tree Nut Employees Rita Ruiz and Esmeralda Miranda for stepping up to provide the necessary training to all of the ginner employees. We couldn’t have done it without everyone’s help and support. The Association hopes for an efficient and safe 2026 ginning season.

The Association’s 2026 Regional Forklift Train-the-Trainer workshops have successfully completed training sessions in Tulare, Fresno, Le Grand, Chico, and Dunnigan.

This year, the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association, The Zenith, Fresno County Farm Bureau, Nisei Farmers League, California Fresh Fruit Association, California Citrus Mutual, InterWest Insurance Services, CopperPoint Insurance Companies, African American Farmers of California, and the Western Tree Nut Association have partnered to provide bilingual (English and Spanish) Forklift Safety Train-the-Trainer workshops throughout the region.
 
The next workshop locations are Turlock and Wasco.
 
These workshops are designed for owners, managers, supervisors, safety personnel, and individuals responsible for employee training. Each participant will receive a comprehensive binder with the materials needed to understand applicable rules and regulations and to conduct effective forklift safety training. Attendees who complete the full class will also receive a certificate of completion.
 
The Association has also hosted Machine Guarding and Confined Spaces webinars. The next webinar, Respiratory Protection, will be held on May 11th.
 
Training Cost:

• $65 per training (members)
• $85 per training (non-members)

 
For registration details and additional information about the workshops and webinars, please refer to the event flyer or visit https://ccgga.org/ .

Last month, the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association (CCGGA) and Western Tree Nut Association (WTNA), in partnership with AgSafe, held a one-hour Harassment Prevention Training for nonsupervisory employees via live webinar. This week they will be offering another training via live webinar on Wednesday, April 15. The webinar will be offered in two sessions:

• Spanish: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
• English: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The cost to attend is $35 per participant. Participants will receive a certificate of completion following the training.

This training satisfies California’s mandatory harassment prevention requirements for nonsupervisory employees and provides practical guidance on maintaining a respectful and compliant workplace.

Under California law, employers with five or more employees must provide harassment prevention training to all employees. Nonsupervisory employees are required to complete at least one hour of training, while supervisors must complete a separate two-hour course.

To register, please complete the attached form and return it to michelle@wtna.org or contact our office at (559) 455-9272 for additional information. We encourage members to take advantage of this convenient webinar format to ensure compliance.

After nine long years, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) has issued a full registration for Transform (sulfoxaflor) or the control of cotton aphids, flea hoppers, lygus, whiteflies, stink bugs and thrips on cotton. The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association (CCGGA) has spent a considerable amount of time, money and effort to help secure this registration. CCGGA first obtain Section 18 emergency registrations in 2017, 2018 and 2019. It was denied in 2020 when EPA issued their full registration, but California was still not finished with their evaluation and then embroiled in a lawsuit regarding the product. In 2025, CCGGA received the first of its kind emergency registration using a never before used process that allows for a one time limited registration if the situation dictates it. In certain years, lygus can be overwhelming in cotton, such as 2017 where some growers suffered major crop damage or 2024 where some growers endured complete crop loss. No longer. Now the industry has a valuable tool to help combat this destructive pest. 

AB 1603 (Schulz) has been introduced to the State Legislature and would require pesticides containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to be deemed “restricted materials beginning in July 2028 and then prohibit the application of these pesticides beginning in 2030. What is most troubling here is the premise of the bill, that somehow use of these pesticides is exposing farmers, farmworkers and the general population to unmitigated contamination from PFAS. This is simply not true. Before any active ingredient can be registered, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) conducts extensive evaluations of human health, environmental fate, and ecological risk. In California, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (Cal DPR) applies an additional layer of review that is widely recognized as the most stringent in the nation. Net, pesticides approved for use in California are among the most rigorously reviewed products in commerce, including for PFAS presence. Much of the push for this legislation is based on comments siting residue testing on fruits and vegetables where traces of PFAS were found.  However, those claims lack scientific context. These claims rely on DPR monitoring data but misinterpret what detection means in a regulatory framework. Detection of residues does not equate to risk. Regulatory frameworks are specifically designed to account for both hazard characteristics, such as persistence, and real-world exposure, ensuring that products meeting these standards do not pose unreasonable risks to human health or the environment. DPR and EPA establish tolerances with large built-in safety margins to ensure protection of consumers, including sensitive populations. Residue monitoring is specifically designed to confirm compliance with these safety thresholds. In 2023, of the 1,059 produce samples labeled as “grown in California,”  99% had pesticide residues below US EPA tolerance levels. Across all samples test, including organic and conventional, more than 97% of fruits and vegetables sold in California contained no detectable pesticide residues or residues below federal standards. AB 1603 would eliminate critical tools for California agriculture without alternatives and for absolutely no sound scientific reason. Rest assured this is at the top of the priority list for the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association to fight this year.
 
For the cotton industry in California, the following active ingredients would be restricted in 2028 and then prohibited in 2030:

The final agenda for the 2026 California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association (CCGGA) Annual Meeting has been announced. Joining CCGGA this year will be Supima and the Western Cotton Shippers Association (WCSA) as they will hold their Annual Meetings in conjunction with CCGGA, making it a full but impactful and informative day. The cost to attend is free and includes lunch, but you must register in advance. Please call (559)252-0684 or email Michelle at michelle@ccgga.org. The agenda is below.

The Association’s 2026 Regional Forklift Train-the-Trainer workshop series is underway, with many successful trainings already completed. This year, the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association, The Zenith, Fresno County Farm Bureau, Nisei Farmers League, California Fresh Fruit Association, California Citrus Mutual, InterWest Insurance Services, CopperPoint Insurance Companies, African American Farmers of California, and the Western Tree Nut Association have partnered to provide bilingual (English and Spanish) Forklift Safety Train-the-Trainer workshops through the region.

Upcoming workshop locations include:

• Dunnigan – April 8th
• Turlock – April 21st
• Wasco – April 23rd

These workshops are designed for owners, managers, supervisors, safety personnel, and individuals responsible for employee training. Each participant will receive a comprehensive binder with the materials needed to understand applicable rules and regulations and to conduct effective forklift safety training. Attendees who complete the full class will also receive a certificate of completion.

Earlier this spring, the Association also hosted Machine Guarding webinar, with additional Confined Spaces and Respiratory Protection webinars planned later this season.

Training Cost:

• $65 per training (members)
• $85 per training (non-members)

For registration details and additional information about the workshops and webinars, please refer to the event flyer.