Appetite to Come Together: Cotton groups are optimistic about Farm Bill chances

Cotton growers are hoping to get their share of the Farm Bill pot.

We spoke with a Texas farmer who tells us while it has been a rough couple of years for cotton, he is optimistic about the current makeup of Congress and those on the ag committees.

“There’s a lot of appetite, I would say, to really come together, work together to enhance the policy that we have on the books today, and really kind of walked along and make sure that the policy that is being developed is substantial. That will help over the next four to five years in the length term of a farm bill process,” said Kody Bessent.

Cotton growers have had a rough go recently, with break-even prices for last year’s cotton around $0.70-$0.80 per pound. Just recently, the National Cotton Council updated planting intentions for this year, down nearly 15 percent from 2024, which comes out to 9.6 million acres. Extra long staple intentions are also down, nearly 25 percent. The Cotton Council says weather and agronomic conditions have led to the updated acres.

While there is a large push to get the Farm Bill done, it could be some time before it has passed. Our sources in Washington tell us it will likely be summer before it sees any action.

Related Stories
With record grain harvests and rising global ethanol demand, leaders across the ag and energy sectors are pushing for year-round E15 sales to mitigate the strain on grain trade.
Pork producers warn that proposed definitions of “ultra-processed” food in guidelines from the “Make America Healthy Again” plan could negatively impact industry-standard bacon, sausage, and feed practices.
Concerns over Chronic Wasting Disease are fueling a long-standing legal battle between Minnesota regulators and deer farmers. The case could soon reach the state’s Supreme Court with broader implications for agriculture.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) are praising the passage of a bill to delist gray wolves as an endangered species by the U.S. House last week.
USDA Undersecretary Luke Lindberg told RFD-TV News that we can only guess what Congress will do down the road. Still, the USDA recognizes its responsibility to spend resources efficiently and effectively.
In Minnesota, a legal and legislative battle has reached a tipping point. For over a decade, the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the private deer-farming industry have been locked in a dispute over the management of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

University of Nebraska–Lincoln ag educator Matt Kreifels discusses his recent FFA Alumni award and the future of ag education.
Mexico plans to release 202,000 acre-feet of water into the Rio Grande, offering temporary relief to South Texas farmers as Congress advances the PERMIT Act.
Analysts say that while low-income households are facing financial pressures, other middle- and higher-income consumers are helping fill the gap for retail beef demand.
Despite China’s sharp drop in grain purchases this year, new USDA export data this week shows that even some buying activity from the trade giant still moves the markets.