Earlier this month, the Joint Cotton Industry Bale Packaging Committee (JPIBPC) met to make a final determination on the request to phase out woven polypropylene bagging and wire ties on bales. This topic has been a hotly contested item across the cotton-belt, and the committee has met 3 times prior to discuss the options before them. In a roll-call vote, the committee approved the timeline as detailed below:
- Woven PPE bagging will be loan eligible for the next 6 years, with the final year being 2031
- Wire ties will be loan eligible for 9 years, however, in 2031 (after the 5th crop year) would be restricted to export only
National Cotton Council staff will now begin educational efforts within the industry to prepare gins for the transition. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Lauren Krogman, Manager of Marketing and Processing Technology for the National Cotton Council at lkrogman@cotton.org.