Writer: Joe Bryant (806) 746-6101; j-bryant1@tamu.edu
Contact: Kelley Green (512) 476-8388
COLLEGE STATION — To stay ahead of changes in the cotton industry in Texas and across the nation, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M is establishing a University Chair in Cotton Engineering, Ginning and Mechanization in the university’s agricultural engineering department.
Leaders from all segments of the cotton industry have formed the Cotton Industry Support Group and initiated a five-year campaign to raise $500,000 to endow the chair. When the group meets that goal, it will qualify for another $500,000 from the Texas A&M Foundation under the President’s Matching Gift Chair Program.
The first $100,000 donation for the projectr was made in April by the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association (TCGA).
Cotton is the state’s leading crop, and advancements in mechanization, engineering and ginning are crucial to its continuing success, said Jimmy Roppolo, TCGA president and general manager of Farmer’s Cooperative in El Campo.
“At recent Beltwide Cotton Conferences we have noted how many industry leaders had agricultural engineering backgrounds, and the many innovations and advancements that have come from those departments” to help the industry meet new challenges, he said.
He noted that at the same time, however, such educational programs are being downsized in many universities, or, as at Texas Tech University a few years ago, dropped altogether.
“With cotton such a big cash crop in Texas, we felt it was important to have an endowed chair for the state.”
Research, education and extension programs in cotton engineering, ginning and mechanization at A&M “are facing extraordinary challenges and opportunities in an agricultural industry that will, in all likelihood, change more dramatically in the next century than in the last,” said Kelley Green, president of the Cotton Industry Support Group and a graduate of the A&M department.
“This chair will ensure continued efforts in maintaining excellence in these programs that address the current and future needs of the cotton industry.”
Income from the chair will support a scholar to perform research, education and Extension activities for the benefit of the cotton industry. Specific programs envisioned include continuation of leading research, teaching and extension programs, including producing, harvesting , ginning, processing, storing and manufacturing of cotton and cotton products; expanding efforts in technology transfer and continuing professional development to the cotton industry, and strengthening undergraduate and graduate programs in the department.
“We’re looking at this as a source for good, young technical people with intelligence and capabilities in engineering, management and in regulatory roles,” Green said.
The entire cotton industry has benefitted from efforts by scientists and staff in A&M’s agricultural engineering department, said Bill Norman, of Prattville, Ala., engineering consultant formerly with Continental Eagle Corp. “From my experience in the industry I know its importance, not just in Texas, but around the world,” he said.
Among the department’s contributions, Norman, noted, are development of:
* the cotton module builder, which has streamlined field storage and handling at the gin of harvested cotton;
* the module feeder, which enables gins to more efficiently handle cotton modules; and
* the 1D3D cyclone and low pressure cyclone systems for dust collection, which help gins meet air quality standards.
“We (in the industry) think it is important to support continuation of this strong, historical partnership” by establishing this chair at Texas A&M, Norman said.
Contributions to the endowment fund should be made payable to the Texas A&M Foundation and designated for the University Chair in Cotton Engineering, Ginning and Mechanization. In addition to cash gifts, the Chair Program encourages gifts of stock, trusts, bequests and insurance. Donations may be sent to the foundation, 1501 Texas Avenue South, College Station, Texas 77840-3398, or to the Agricultural Engineering Department, 201 Scoates Hall, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2117. Further information may be obtained by telephoning the Ag Program development office, (979) 845-9582.
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