The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has endorsed the continuation of 1990 amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Act.
Notable provisions of the 1990 amendments levy an assessment on imported cotton and the cotton content of imported products and eliminate assessment refunds to producers. AMS’s decision is based on the results of a comprehensive review that evaluated the impacts of the amendments on the Cotton Research and Promotion Program.
The AMS review found:
- The 1990 amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Act were implemented successfully and are operating as intended
- The program is achieving its statutory objective of increasing markets and uses of cotton
- The cotton industry supports continuation of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program
As provided by the Cotton Research and Promotion Act, those affected by the 1990 amendments will be provided an opportunity to request a referendum on continuance of the amendments in 2021.
A summary of this review was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 18, 2020. For copies and additional information, contact Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 22406; call (540) 361-2726; or email CottonRP@usda.gov.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight to 21 boards. The oversight ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity, and is paid for by industry assessments.
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