Changes ahead in 2010 boll weevil-eradication program

Published: March 17, 2010

CLEMSON — South Carolina cotton growers will have significantly reduced reporting requirements and a simplified payment process as a result of actions taken by the board of directors of the South Carolina Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation at its recent meeting in Columbia.

Growers no longer will be required to submit the Preliminary Cotton Acreage Report as has been required in the past. This means there is no May 1 deadline to be concerned about, only the July 15 Final Acreage Report deadline.

Also, county Farm Services Agency offices no longer will accept payment of boll weevil assessments when growers file their Final Acreage Report. Instead, growers will receive an invoice for the assessment from the Southeastern Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation based upon their Final Acreage Report directing them to remit payment of the assessment to the plant industry department at Clemson University. The deadline for payment will be specified on the invoice.

Please note, however, that the July 15 Acreage Certification Date has not changed. The final cotton-acreage report is due on or before July 15. A penalty of up to $5 per acre may be assessed for all cotton acreage reported after July 15.  

The Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation directors also set the 2010 acreage assessment for maintenance and operation of the boll weevil-eradication program at $1.25 per acre, the same as last year. There has not been a boll weevil trapped in South Carolina in the last 10 years. This, along with steps taken to increase efficiency of the trapping program, has allowed the board to reduce assessments from $5.20 per acre to the current level during that time span.

Any questions about the boll weevil assessments or penalties should be directed to David Howle of Clemson University at 864-646-2120. Questions about trapping or other field operations should be directed to Randy Lynch at 803-495-4105.

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