DATE: Friday, August 22, 1997               TAG: 9708220765

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   61 lines

STATE'S COTTON GROWERS ORGANIZE FOR EXPANSION FARMERS WANT TO SPEND MONEY AT HOME FOR RESEARCH AND PROMOTION.

Virginia cotton growers, whose crop has seen the greatest resurgence in the state's agricultural history, want to spend more money at home on research, education and promotion.

In the first statewide gathering of the Virginia Cotton Growers Association, more than 100 farmers were urged to support a state referendum to assess themselves an additional 15 cents a bale on all cotton produced and sold in Virginia.

Called a production assessment, the 15-cent assessment would generate about $20,000 for the association the first year. The existing assessment of 70 cents, which is shared with other associations, would continue, for a total assessment of 85 cents.

``Since the rebirth of cotton in Virginia, we've seen acres grow; we've seen gins built,'' said president Larry Fowler, a Newsoms farmer.

``In early '96, talk began about starting our own cotton group. The demonstrations, research andtechnology you've seen here at the research center today is an example of what we can support. Vote `yes' on this referendum.''

The meeting was held at the Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Holland after the center's annual field day.

The organization started last year when growers in southeastern Virginia realized that maybe, this time, cotton was here to stay.

Cotton was at its peak in Virginia in 1924, when 108,000 acres were planted.

In the 1950s, boll weevils invaded. By the 1970s, because of insect damage and disappearing farm labor, as few as 100 acres were grown, all in Greensville County.

Last year, farmers planted 106,000 acres and set an all-time production record with 160,000 bales.

Since cotton started sprouting again in local fields in the '80s, most of the money that growers have dedicated to the industry has been filtered through the North Carolina Cotton Growers Association, Fowler said. That's where the gins were.

After gins were built in Virginia, the growers thought it was time to organize, Fowler said.

Not quite a year old, the organization has more than 400 members. Membership eligibility requires growing enough cotton - about an acre - to produce at least one bale.

The referendum is the organization's first focus. Any state resident who has produced at least one bale of cotton between July 1, 1996, and June 30 is eligible to vote. Ballots, which have been mailed, must be returned to Richmond by Sept. 2.

Proceeds from the assessment will be shared with the Southeastern Cotton Growers Association and the National Cotton Council, said James C. Maitland, Virginia Tech cotton specialist at the research center.

The association is expected to have two meetings a year, Maitland said - a winter meeting to allow more growers to attend and a summer meeting following the research center's annual field day. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

JOHN H. SHEALLY II/The Virginian-Pilot

Qzzie Abaye, back to camera, speaks to cotton farmers Thursday at

the Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Holland.

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