About Us

What is the Southern Cotton Association?

The Southern Cotton Shippers Association was organized in 1916 by a group of shippers from the Mississippi Delta and the Memphis market. In 1926 the territory of the Southern was enlarged to include the entire states of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. In 1955, the name was changed to "Southern Cotton Association" as it is still known today. In 1990 the Southern merged with the Arkansas-Missouri Cotton Trade Association, and the territory of the Southern was enlarged to also include the states of Arkansas and Missouri.

The objects and purpose of the Association are described in the Charter as follows:

"The objects and purpose of said corporation are social and educational, to establish harmony and uniformity of trade customs and practices among its members and just and equitable principles in the cotton trade; to promote the general welfare of its members and others engaged in the cotton business, to decide and determine matters of difference among its members, and between its members and others when submitted to it for arbitration; to gather, compile and disseminate information and statistics relating to matters of special interest to the cotton industry."

Each year, in late spring, the Southern has an annual meeting of the membership at which time reports concerning matters of interest to the cotton industry are submitted by various standing committees. Members have the privilege to bring any subject from the convention floor to be considered by the entire membership.

All members of the Southern Cotton Association automatically become members of the American Cotton Shippers Association. Through this affiliation members are informed about issues affecting the cotton industry in this country and the rest of the world. The Southern through ACSA cooperates with U.S. government officials to disseminate information concerning all legislation which affects the cotton industry, as well as financial assistance programs.