FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SHARPLY REDUCED COTTON PLANTINGS WILL SHRINK COTTONSEED SUPPLY

CARY, N.C. (May 15, 2008) - King Cotton may have lost its crown in acreage,
but cottonseed continues to reign supreme as a feed ingredient for high-
producing dairy cows.

According to the USDA's May 9 prospective plantings report for 2008-2009,
cotton acreage is expected to shrink by 1.44 million acres, down to 9.39
million acres. Soybean acres are expected to increase by 11.2 million acres
and wheat by 3.4 million acres. "The increase of soybean acres alone will
eclipse that of the entire 2007 cotton crop," notes Tom Wedegaertner,
director, cottonseed research and marketing, Cotton Incorporated.

"With cotton production projected at 14.5 million bales, 25 percent below
last
year, cottonseed availability will follow suit," he adds. "As we head into
another year of limited supply, we'll be closely watching the use of
cottonseed in dairies. Last year, we witnessed an amazing loyalty, despite
prices breaking $300/ton. This year, we're looking at closer to $400/ton.
It's
a whole new ball game."

After the crush, about 2 million tons of cottonseed will be available for
feeding, Wedegaertner explains. "That's half of what we had two years ago,
and enough to feed about 4 million dairy cows."

Rick Titel, a ration analyst for Agri-Nutrition Consulting, Inc., DeForest,
Wis.,
and dairy nutrition consultant for TLC Tech Services, Eldorado, Wis., says
that before the price of cottonseed started to rise, he was recommending up
to 5-6 pounds of whole fuzzy cottonseed per head per day.

Producers who booked cottonseed last fall are in the best situation, he
notes. "Our strategy is to hold in the cottonseed as long as we can with the
booked prices. If producers are buying as they go, we recommend keeping it
in at the 2-pounds-per-head-per-day level for the high producers.

"I've been consulting for 20 years and have seen that when you try to
replace the oil in cottonseed, cows lose body condition over time," he
adds. "Plus, cottonseed is a great source of forage-type NDF that can be
used for forage replacement. For producers in some parts of the country,
cottonseed could actually be a cost-effective alternative to high-quality
hay."

Titel says producers should carefully weigh the pros and cons when replacing
an ingredient. "For instance, you cannot wholly replace the oil in
cottonseed
with distillers' grains, but you can replace a part of it," he says. "When
you
have a high-production herd, you could risk losing production by taking out
too many things."

Dr. Paul Chandler, retired nutritionist and regular Dairyline contributor,
concurs. He says producers should resist reacting emotionally to the
marketplace by replacing cottonseed with cheaper feeds.

"You've got to keep the milk flow up on a daily basis," he says. "Cottonseed
helps do just that."

Cottonseed is a byproduct of the cotton ginning process, and an excellent
source of fiber, protein and energy. Typical rations include up to 15
percent
cottonseed on a dry matter basis. For more information on cottonseed,
including reports on market conditions, feeding information and a list of
suppliers, visit www.cottoninc.com.

Cotton Incorporated, funded by U.S. growers of upland cotton and importers
of cotton and cotton textile products, is the research and marketing company
representing upland cotton. The Program is designed and operated to improve
the demand for and profitability of cotton.