Southern Cotton Growers, Inc. was organized as a non-profit organization on March 16, 1964 under the laws of the State of North Carolina and authorized to transact business in all states of the southeast. Originally known as Uplands Cotton Growers, Inc., the name was later changed in order to more adequately denote its area of representation and responsibility. Southern represents thousands of cotton producers from throughout Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia.
Southern Cotton Growers, Inc. is the largest pure cotton producers organization in the United States in terms of the number of states represented. Also, Southern is one of the certified producer organizations in the southeast authorized to name producer delegates to the National Cotton Council, Members to the Cotton Board, Directors to Cotton, Inc. and other organization which are influential in the cotton industry.
Southern's work rounds out a necessary organizational effort of the southeast's cotton production industry within the highly competitive cotton industry in this country. The three (3) cotton producing areas outside the southeast are closely knitted in effective organizations which are very influential within the cotton industry and in Washington, D.C. There is not, nor has there ever been, any guarantee that growers in the southeast would share equitably in any success of the overall efforts of the cotton industry without an organized effort in the southeast such as Southern Cotton Growers, Inc. to represent producer interest on a national basis in formulating rules, regulations, or legislation, the southeast would become overshadowed and cease to be a major area of cotton production within the cotton industry. How successful Southern's efforts on behalf of the producer in the southeast are, depends directly on the soundness and strength of its financial status and the dedication of our officers, directors and members.
Southern Cotton Growers, Inc. represents the largest single cotton producing area in the United States in terms of political influence with twelve senators and 75 representatives in Washington and more times than not (due to its single purposes) have been very influential in the adoption of policies, practices and legislation conducive to cotton production in the southeast.