Louisiana Cotton Sustainability Project Update

Fieldprints of approximately 30 Louisiana cotton fields have been developed using the Field to Market Fieldprint Calculator.  A summary output of the fieldprints will be discussed demonstrating the relationship among management systems, inputs and conservation practices with the outcome of natural resource conservation and economic cotton production.  Indices of seven conservation parameters--energy, greenhouse gas, soil carbon, land use, soil conservation, irrigation water use efficiency and runoff water quality are compared to national and state baselines. Presentation is requested in the Economics and Marketing conference because of the marketing aspects of meeting the growing demand by consumers, brands and retailers for the supply chain to demonstrate good faith efforts to assure products are produced, processed and delivered in a sustainable manner.  Cotton Leads is a partnership program, which supports industry marketing and promotional efforts.  The fieldprint calculators are an important component of Cotton Leads.