By Jennifer Dorsett
Field Editor
Cotton is king in Texas, and students can develop a deeper understanding of the commodity through the Texas International Cotton School (TCIS).
Enrollment is open for the 38th annual session, which is set for Aug. 6-16.
TCIS is a two-week program designed to provide students with an integrated understanding of Texas cotton and how it intersects with the global cotton and textile industry. From choosing seed in the field to international trade issues, each aspect of growing and marketing cotton in Texas is covered.
The school is a collaboration between the Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute of Texas Tech University and the Texas cotton merchants who make up the Lubbock Cotton Exchange.
The students will have opportunities to see more than 30 cotton experts from across the U.S. in action and gain hands-on experience.
As part of TCIS, students will tour Bayer CropScience’s global cotton headquarters, several farms that use different cotton growing techniques and the Farmers Co-op Compress’ large cotton storage facilities. They will also see how the U.S. Department of Agriculture classes cotton.
“Our planning committee works diligently to ensure that our curriculum not only includes the fundamentals of the cotton industry but also examines the latest issues and advancements,” Lubbock Cotton Exchange President John Aldinger told AgFax.
Total tuition for the session is $3,000, which includes a $500 application fee. Tuition includes class instruction, admittance on tours, lunch on weekdays, dinner at school sanctioned events and class materials.
Registration is due by July 13.
Click here for more information on TCIS or to register for the upcoming session.