The Beltwide Cotton Conferences are unrivaled in terms of diversity of audience and the number of research disciplines represented. The conferences arethe largest annual gathering of the cotton industry, its agribusiness partners, scientists, universities and friends in government. While managing this program, the Council continues to work closely with other commodity and farm groups to effectively defend key provisions of the farm law. Along with defense of the farm bill, the Council has been working on a number of important trade issues.