Where does all of the Delta cotton go?

Jozef Amado and H. Rogers Varner, Jr. According to Jozef Amado, an Asian merchant, most of the cotton shipped to Turkey is American. Turkey has become a major player in the U.S. cotton export market in recent years. This year the country bought 15% of all U.S. exports, and will continue to expand this figure as their mill consumption is on a steep upward trend. Amado's family-owned business, PTM A.S., which stands for cotton soil products imports exports in Turkish, has been around since the 1950's. Amado says, "Basically we are Asians who sell cotton for companies in Turkey. Turkey imports quite a bit of cotton now, and 70% of that is American cotton. We sell U.S. cotton to Turkish mills." Many farmers in this area do not realize part of their production is bound for Turkey, and they should be glad the Turks have come to this market in a major way. Without Turkey buying some 1.7 Mb this year, the U.S. carryout would be much larger, and the price of cotton would be much lower. H. Roger Varner, Jr., of Varner Brothers, says, "The country has proven to be a stable U.S. military ally, and a key business partner. The government is secular, and their GDP growth rate indicates they will be a major world consumer of cotton for years. We met the Amados about a decade ago at a world cotton convention in Liverpool, and have built a steady business that benifits both parties and the cotton planters of this area. Having been in constant discussion with PTM in recent weeks about the upcoming cotton season, it is evident that their company will be a dominant factor in the U.S. export market again." PTM represents the biggest shippers here in the Delta like Staplcotn, which is located in Greenwood, and Allenburg Corporation out of Memphis, which handles over 50% of the Delta's crop. Turkey prefers America's cotton over their own hand picked cotton because our cotton is less contaminated.

Delta State Universitiy Athletic Director Dr. Brad Teague named Jim Allen as the squad's first head coach in July of 2003. Allen has over 11 years of experience, coaching boy and girl's soccer. He comes to DSU from Greenville-Weston High in Greenville. Allen is responsible for creating and developing several soccer programs, beginning with the creation of the Greenville Futbol Club for the purpose of developmental soccer training. He developed the boy's select soccer program and is the Tournament Director and the Director of Coaching for the Greenville Youth Soccer Association. "Coach Allen's experience with Mississippi Soccer and his contacts with Olympic Soccer truly assist DSU to have top notch soccer programs," says Teague. "It is exciting to have someone of this caliber to initiate these programs at Delta State." Allen is a graduate of Delta State University, receiving his BS degree in Business Administration in 2002.

Jim Allen

Be part of Delta State history!

Open tryouts will be held for the Delta State Men and Women's Soccer teams on the following dates. Players may only attend one of the three tryout sessions.

WOMEN'S TEAM
Tue., August 5, 2003 - 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tue., August 12, 2003 - 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Wed., August 20, 2003 - 9-10:30 a.m.; 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 3 - 4:30 p.m.
Mon., August 25, 2003 - 9 - 10:30 a.m.; 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.' 2-3:30 p.m.
MEN'S TEAM
Thurs., August 7, 2003 - 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Thurs., August 14, 2003 - 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Thurs., August, 21, 2003 - 9-11 a.m.; 2 - 3:30 p.m.
Tue., August, 26, 2003 - 9-10:30 a.m.; 1-2:30 p.m.

Wed., August 27, 2003 - Team Selection
Players must wear shorts, jersey, soccer shoes and shin guards.
Location: Field at the corner of Canal and Maple. Across the street from the Hill Apartments.

The small towns along Highway One - originally The Great River Road - are uniting with Clarksdale for a weekend-long celebration. In this way visitors will have the opportunity to participate in quality performances as well as discover the singular lifestyle of the riverside Delta communities.

Click here to see detail of program of events

Courtesy of the Bolivar County Library System.

From Reflections of Bolivar County printed by The Bolivar Commercial