WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching a new Great American Cotton Plan to improve cotton demand, rebuild textile manufacturing, and address years of financial pressure on growers.
The department says cotton producers face a fifth straight year of negative returns, with projected losses of about $2.6 billion across 9 million planted acres. USDA also says the number of U.S. cotton gins has fallen from 2,254 in 1980 to 446.
The plan includes four main areas: promoting domestic cotton use, increasing domestic demand and production, improving trade, and protecting growers from risk.
USDA will elevate its “Plant Not Plastic” initiative, promote American cotton over synthetic fibers, prioritize cotton processors through Rural Development loans, and increase textile mill assistance from 3 cents to 5 cents per pound.
The department also points to trade work with Indonesia and Bangladesh, expanded insurance tools, and a higher seed cotton reference price beginning this fall.
Farm-Level Takeaway: USDA’s cotton plan aims to rebuild demand, expand markets, and support growers facing sustained losses.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
Refining shifts could influence fuel and input costs.
March 12, 2026 07:00 AM
·
ASFMRA’s Craig Thompson shares insights for American farmers who are navigating farmland markets amid agricultural uncertainty.
March 11, 2026 04:04 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
·
Acre reporting is crucial to maximize specialty crop aid.
March 11, 2026 10:49 AM
·
For producers, success this season will require more than just a clean field; it will require meticulous record-keeping, a proactive written mitigation plan, and a constant eye on both the forecast and the federal docket.
March 10, 2026 05:04 PM
·
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney explains how geopolitical developments in the Middle East can create energy-driven pressures that impact the supply chain and reshape demand for certain ag products.
March 10, 2026 03:27 PM
·
