Cotton

USDA’s chief economist says 2026 brings moderating costs, slightly higher crop prices and shifting acreage, but he warns biofuels policy and global competition remain key wild cards for farm income.

According to the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) Planting Intentions Survey, U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 9.0 million cotton acres this spring, a 3.2% decline from 2025, with a nearly 21% drop in the Mid-South.

After years of steady growth, the U.S. agricultural land market is shifting and stabilizing.

After years of losses, debt is piling up and new government payments won’t fill the hole. At a breaking point, more farmers are expected to leave the business this year, some by choice, others forced out by lenders.

Wheat acres are expected to decline, and little change is anticipated for cotton acres after a drop in 2025.

Going into the final weeks of the year, many growers across the country are shouldering significant financial strain from land rent payments, rising input costs, and efforts to stay in business and viable until commodity prices improve.