The Program

As a future leader of the industry, you are introduced to all phases of cotton production and marketing, such as:

• An overview of the history, economics, standards, and trends of the production regions of the world.
• The position of the cotton industry itself in a global economy.
• The harvesting, processing, and utilization efficiencies in use throughout the world.
• The manufacturing process, including fiber types and properties in their end use, and fiber conversion costs.
• The purchase of cotton, including typical trade terms and conditions in the various markets of the world.
• The movement of cotton from the field to the textile mill, including the world transportation infrastructure, delivery problems, tariffs, inspection services, insurance claims, and payment procedures.
• The appropriate use of various risk management tools available to producers, merchants, and spinners; forward contracts, futures and options contracts; explanation of minimum price and maximum price contracts utilizing options.
• The fundamentals of futures and options trading, including the daily management of simulated cash and futures positions.
• International trading rules, organizations, arbitration procedures, the settlement of claims, and the enforcement of awards and claims.
• The basic considerations of doing business in a trans-cultural environment and the ethical implications of contracts, contract law, and the importance of contract sanctity in the world trade of cotton.
• Electronic trading platforms.