Cotton
USDA pegged new crop corn ending stocks at 1.790 billion bu., well below the average pre-report estimate of 1.873 billion bu. World ending stocks for corn, soybeans and wheat also landed below expectations.
Corn and soybeans set for largest percentage of cropland in the region on record
USDA’s Great American Cotton Plan aims to boost demand for U.S. cotton through domestic manufacturing incentives, traceable supply chains and the Buying American Cotton Act.
USDA’s March 2026 Prospective Plantings report produced no major surprises, but the bigger story may be the fact only 37.6% of farmers responded, the lowest participation in history for that survey.
Cotton futures hit contract highs as short covering lifted prices, but weak demand and rising costs are keeping profitability out of reach. Texas Tech’s Darren Hudson breaks down what it means for growers heading into 2026.
Trump postpones his China summit, citing ongoing Middle East tensions and the need to remain in Washington, while officials say China is supportive of rescheduling the meeting.
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.