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
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