Consumers are asking more questions about how agricultural products are grown and agriculturally-based products manufactured. The Cotton industry has been finding some interesting answers to those questions in the Vision 21 Project.

Stewardship, fellowship and passion are three words Shawn Holladay wanted to talk about when he accepted the bronze Cotton Boll award for being named the Southwest High Cotton winner for 2012. Holladay and his wife, Julie, experienced an horrific growing season on the High Plans in 2011. But Holladay, like the other three regional winners honored at this year’s High Cotton Breakfast, wanted to talk about the good things in agriculture.

BASF is introducing a new rice herbicide from its Kixor family of products. Sharpen will provide control of glyphosate-resistant weeds, such as Palmer amaranth and horseweed.

2011 was a difficult year for many cotton producers, particularly those who endured months of drought in the Southwest. High prices for peanuts and, to a lesser extent, for corn and soybeans could mean cotton farmers have a tough choice to make in the next few months. Florida’s David Wright discussed 2011 and the prospects for 2012 in a speech at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences in Orlando.