US cotton producers plan to plant 9.6 million acres in 2025, a 14.5 per cent decline from 2024, according to the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) 44th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey.
Of the total, 9.4 million acres are dedicated to upland cotton, while extra-long staple (ELS) cotton acreage is expected to drop 23.5 per cent to 158,000 acres. These reductions reflect lower cotton prices compared to other crops like corn and soybeans, influencing farmers' planting decisions.
The survey, which surveyed producers across the 17-state Cotton Belt, also forecast a harvested area of 7.8 million acres and a crop size of 13.9 million bales. The reduction in acreage is attributed to shifts in crop rotation and growing interest in corn, soybeans, and peanuts, particularly in the Southeast and Mid-South regions. For example, Georgia is expected to experience its lowest cotton acreage since 1993, with a 21.5 per cent decrease.
In the West, upland cotton acreage is set to decline by 12.3 per cent, with California seeing a significant 40.8 per cent drop. However, New Mexico expects a slight increase in cotton planting. The survey highlights that weather conditions, market trends, and input costs will continue to impact final planting decisions throughout the season.
These planting intentions offer a snapshot of current market conditions but may change as farmers respond to shifting economic and environmental factors.
