Cotton Farmer Of The Year
Bernie Jordan, Jordan Farms and Jordan Land & Timber, Yazoo City, MS, has been named the 2019 Cotton Farmer of the Year at the 22nd Annual National Cotton & Rice Conference, Southern Corn & Soybean Conference, Southern Precision Ag Conference and the Delta States Irrigation Conference.
Jordan majored in Agricultural Economics at Mississippi State University then returned to the family farm in 1979. Jordan always stayed focused on agriculture. “In those days cotton was king in the Mississippi delta, so obviously it had Bernie’s attention. As time passed and more planted acres shifted to grains, his focus remained on cotton. He maintained this focus through the more difficult times in the cotton industry and continued to dedicate most of his acres to cotton. In addition to this, he agreed to serve on any board or committee he was asked to, as well opening his farm to extension and private sector research for the betterment of the cotton industry. Jordan has done his part to help maintain the cotton production infrastructure by remaining involved in Yazoo Planters Gin where he currently serves as President. When the cotton acres were scarce and gins were closing all over the delta, Jordan fought to help keep this gin afloat and today the local growers are benefitting from those efforts.”
Researchers agree Jordan is focused on cotton. “I had a three year irrigation study using soil moisture sensors on his farm. He was very interested in the soil moisture data to help with irrigation scheduling. Since then he has left with the impression that he has adopted the use of “computer-hole-selection” and soil moisture sensors on his farm. I believe Jordan is a forward thinker and always looking for economical ways to improve production and profit.”
Product development is another effort Jordan has advanced. “Jordan donate the first 100 lbs of cotton to an art project in 2012, he has been instrumental in launching our Cotton product Development Center. Without his support, the center would never have made it off the ground. Not only has he recruited and advocated on our behalf for financial and non-financial resources, but he has also helped to increase our network and the impact it has on our lives.”
Currently, Jordan has been Director of Cotton Incorporated for 21 years and is Board Chairman. He is a Director and Treasurer of the Mississippi Boll Weevil Management Corporation. He serves on the boards of Delta Council, Yazoo County Farm Bureau, Delta Wildlife and on the Yazoo City advisory committee for Staplcotn.
In the past, Jordan has held many leadership position including; President of Yazoo County Farm Bureau; Vice President of Delta Council; Director of Southern Cotton Ginners; member of Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board; trustee of King’s Daughters Hospital of Yazoo City and Director and Chairman of the Yazoo City Advisory Board for AMSOUTH Bank. ∆