Cotton growers had a rough go last season but it is all eyes ahead in the new year.
James Bookhart, a technical agronomist with Deltapine, says the crop and farmers showed extreme resiliency last season.
“We had an absolutely challenging year with about eight weeks with no rainfall. Cotton looked pitiful. Then we had to direct hits with tropical storms, so an extremely challenging year, and lo and behold, our cotton crop exceeded expectations tremendously. So just the nature of the cotton plant and why we grow cotton in the southeastern United States, I think, was really emphasized in 2024.”
Weather was a major player last season, and with potentially more on the way, Bookhart says versatility is key.
“We don’t know whether we’re going to have that wet year or dry year for that matter. So we need products that will perform in a wide range of environments. So that would be my suggestion. Talk to me, talk to your experts in the field, and make sure you protect yourself and really are prepared for a challenging environment with the varieties that you choose.”
Since the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law, cotton growers have seen their production costs go up by nearly 30 percent. Analysts say this year’s input costs likely will not provide much support.
Purdue University’s Dr. Michael Langemeier discusses the survey’s findings in February and broader signals in the months ahead.
March 03, 2026 02:38 PM
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Roger McEowen of Washburn University School of Law joined us to discuss key legal and tax issues ranchers should consider as they recover from recent prairie fires across the Southern Plains.
March 03, 2026 01:06 PM
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China may no longer serve as a consistent anchor market for U.S. cotton exports. Lewis Williamson of HTS Commodities joined us to discuss the factors influencing planting decisions, river conditions, and what producers are considering as they finalize acreage plans for the season.
March 03, 2026 07:00 AM
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Falling commodity prices and rising costs continue to squeeze farm margins. Kip Jacobs with The Mosaic Company addresses fertilizer market pressures, nutrient use efficiency, and strategies growers can consider to protect their fertilizer investment this season.
March 03, 2026 05:00 AM
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Weather Swings Shape Early Season Farm Conditions Nationwide
March 02, 2026 02:54 PM
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Kurt Kovarik of Clean Fuels Alliance America joined us to break down the latest developments in the Renewable Fuel Standard rulemaking process and what it could mean for agriculture, energy markets, and rural economies.
March 02, 2026 02:25 PM
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