Cotton: Yes, the Beltwide will be in New Orleans

A couple of people, including a California crop consultant, have asked lately if I knew whether the Beltwide Cotton Conference will be in New Orleans next January as originally planned. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it's a natural question to ask.

And the answer is, "yes." The Beltwide is returning to New Orleans.

T. Cotton Nelson, National Cotton Coucil communications director, confirmed a while back that NCC was sticking with its commitment, and he included the following info in his newsletter last week:

"The conferences' headquarters hotels - the New Orleans Marriott and Sheraton - are newly renovated and larger room blocks will allow more conferees to stay close to the action. As of May 2, more than 2,630 restaurants had reopened and the city, a perennial favorite among Beltwide conferees, has been declared healthy."

Based on Nelson's report, people had already been asking about safety and health issues relating to New Orleans. NCC put together an FAQ page covering the subject. Click here to go to it.

I asked Nelson at the last Beltwide -- in San Antonio in January -- if the NCC planned to go back to New Orleans in 2007. That far back (and barely four months after Katrina), Nelson said emphatically, "If any way possible. The (NCC) board believes it's the right thing to do. It's important to the city and Louisiana that we come back in '07."

Thank you, National Cotton Council.

I can almost taste the bread pudding at Mr. B's.