Cotton growers on Farm Bill: “There’s an appetite to work together”

The House Ag Committee passed its version of the Farm Bill during the last Congress, but it gained no traction in the Senate. Now, cotton growers are paying attention as this session gets underway.

“And so I think there’ll be some really unique demographics that get to really parlay together, really work together, and come together more so than some of the dynamics we saw going into the end of the 118th and the new 119th Congress that is just now getting started. There’s a lot of appetite, I would say, to really come together, and work together to enhance the policy that we have on the books today,” said Plain Cotton Growers CEO Kody Bessent.

Bessent also points to tax reform as another area they want to be addressed. The 2017 tax cuts will sunset later this year, leaving much of the ag community waiting for answers. President-elect Trump has said extending those cuts will be his top priority this year.

Related Stories
House ag leaders had hoped to get the Farm Bill voted on by Easter, but no dates have been secured just yet.
OHFB President Bill Patterson shares an update from Washington on the group’s policy priorities and the issues shaping agriculture ahead of the 2026 planting season.
Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Kansas congressman Dan Glickman joined RFD News to share his outlook on agricultural policy, bipartisan cooperation, and the challenges facing farmers today.
The bill has already cleared the House Agriculture Committee and is headed toward a full House vote, but the timeline for final passage remains unclear. But the question is, when exactly? Could it possibly be a nice little gift for Easter?
UNL student fellow Alison Walbrecht shares her perspective on building support for agricultural research, extension, and teaching while gaining hands-on insight into federal policymaking.
National Pork Producers Council incoming president Rob Brenneman shares insights from the National Pork Industry Forum in Kansas City, where producers gathered to discuss Farm Bill policy, sustainability, and other priorities for the year ahead.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Cattle imports from Mexico remain stalled amid the New World screwworm outbreak. At the same time, Tyson closures add pressure on Nebraska producers and markets ahead of the USDA’s upcoming Cattle on Feed Report.
Georgia has regained its HPAI-free status after a swift response to October’s detection. Commissioner Tyler Harper urges producers to stay vigilant and maintain biosecurity.
While this month’s WASDE report will not include updated figures on U.S. crop size, officials say it will offer a clearer picture of crop conditions in the Southern Hemisphere.
USTR Jamieson Greer signals a narrower trade deal with China, adding more market uncertainty. The Farm Bureau also supports reviewing China’s missed trade commitments under the Phase One.
Southern producers head into 2026 with thin margins, tighter credit, and rising agronomic risks despite scattered yield improvements.
Record yields and exceptionally low BCFM strengthen U.S. corn’s competitive position in global markets.