A free truckload of whole cottonseed is just one of the prizes dairy producers will have a chance to win by participating in Cotton Incorporated’s new video contest, dubbed “Innovative on-farm storage solutions for cottonseed.” Launching Nov. 1, the contest invites dairy producers to grab their cameras and show off their cottonseed storage savvy.

While fun at heart, the video contest was created with purpose: to educate fellow dairy producers about innovative and cost-effective storage solutions for the feedstuff, supplies for which are forecast to double in 2010-11. The contest will live on Cotton Incorporated’s recently launched website, www.wholecottonseed.com. The new website and contest coexist to engage progressive dairy producers with whole fuzzy cottonseed in a new and interactive way.

“With supply of whole cottonseed back on the rise, and more dairy producers and nutritionists reintroducing the feedstuff into the ration, we felt it was essential to develop an online resource to provide current and practical information on working with the fuzzy feed, which can be tricky,” says Tom Wedegaertner, director, cottonseed research & marketing, Cotton Incorporated. “Expanded features, like video tips and access to current cottonseed pricing will further establish this site as a portal for making informed business decisions about cottonseed.”

The video contest entry requires dairy producers to demonstrate in three minutes or less an innovative storage solution for cottonseed. Entries must be submitted at www.wholecottonseed.com/contest by Dec. 10, 2010. Cotton Incorporated will select the top five videos, based on the following criteria weighed at 25 percent each: originality, maintenance of seed quality, economic feasibility and presentation (clarity of message, creative, professional delivery). The five finalists will receive a $500 Visa gift card and a Kodak flip camera and digital picture frame. The public will subsequently have the opportunity to vote and elect the winning video. The recipient of the grand prize shall receive a free truckload of cottonseed worth approximately $5,000.

For more information on cottonseed and details about the “Innovative on-farm storage solutions for cottonseed” video contest, including the official rules, visit www.wholecottonseed.com  PD

—From Cotton Incorporated news release