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
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).
December 22, 2025 12:30 PM
·
National Land Realty’s Jeramy Stephens shares his outlook on farmland market trends, which remain under close watch as new federal assistance programs roll out — with experts analyzing potential impacts on land values, buying, and stability.
December 19, 2025 02:15 PM
·
Michelle Perez shares more about the American Farmland Trust’s resource to help farmers and producers plan soil health improvements.
December 19, 2025 02:03 PM
·
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer outlines the key difference between previous ECAP payments and the Farm Bridge Assistance Program.
December 19, 2025 01:56 PM
·
Jeff Johnston with CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange explains the growing role of Rural America in supporting the nation’s digital infrastructure.
December 19, 2025 01:43 PM
·
FFA Central Region Vice President Claire Woeppel joins FFA Today to share her story and excitement to connect with FFA members nationwide.
December 19, 2025 01:37 PM
·
