NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — Cotton producers may soon strengthen their financial safety net as new farm legislation allows previously ineligible base acres to return to program eligibility.
Under the Trump Administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA), producers have a voluntary opportunity to add base acres, including unassigned base created in 2018 when seed cotton replaced generic base.
According to Oklahoma State University Extension Specialist and Assistant Professor Amy Hagerman, those unassigned acres were retained by USDA’s Farm Service Agency but excluded from ARC and PLC participation. The legislation allows up to 30 million base acres nationwide to be added back into eligibility.
In 2025, USDA reports 2.51 million unassigned generic base acres alongside 12.31 million seed cotton base acres. The seed cotton reference price also increased from $0.367 to $0.42 per pound. With prices expected to remain pressured, restoring base eligibility may help offset elevated breakeven costs across Southern cotton operations.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Restored base acres strengthen cotton risk protection.
Tony St. James, RFD NEWS Markets Specialist
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.
March 11, 2026 03:34 PM
·
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson warns that rising electricity demand from AI and data centers could strain the grid and affect rural electric cooperatives if U.S. power infrastructure cannot keep up.
March 11, 2026 11:59 AM
·
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.
March 11, 2026 11:24 AM
·
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?
March 11, 2026 11:12 AM
·
Weather remains the primary driver for wheat price outlook.
March 11, 2026 10:58 AM
·
Acre reporting is crucial to maximize specialty crop aid.
March 11, 2026 10:49 AM
·
