The USDA Risk Management Agency published final 2024 county yields for Upland cotton on June 12, 2025, and approved insurance providers have begun sending out final indemnity payments to Upland cotton producers who purchased 2024 crop year Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX) or Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) policy endorsements.
See estimated payment information for Texas High Plains counties in PCG service area below.
To download the PDF version of this table, click the image above.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks nominations of domestic cotton producers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee/Kentucky, Texas, Virginia, and importers of cotton and cotton-containing products for positions on The Cotton Board.
The producers and importers will fill positions for 18 members and 18 alternates. USDA will appoint members and alternates to serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2028, except for one member position from Texas and one alternate position from N.C. who each will serve a one-year term ending Dec. 31, 2026.
Certified producer organizations (CPOs) and certified importer organizations (CIOs) will hold caucuses to nominate two qualified persons for each open position in their respective industry segment. Producer caucuses are scheduled as follows and all times are local times:
• Alabama: Mon., July 14 at 3:00 p.m.
• Florida: Mon., July 14 at 3:00 p.m.
• Georgia: Mon., July 14 at 3:00 p.m.
• Kansas: Mon., July 21 at 9:45 a.m.
• Missouri: Fri., July 11 at 11:00 a.m.
• New Mexico: Wed., July 16 at 10:00 a.m.
• North Carolina: Mon., July 14 at 3:00 p.m.
• Oklahoma: Tues., July 22 at 10:00 a.m.
• South Carolina: Mon., July 14 at 3:00 p.m.
• Tennessee/ Kentucky.: Fri., July 25 at 1:00 p.m.
• Texas: Thurs., July 24 at 10:45 a.m.
• Virginia: Mon., July 14 at 3:00 p.m.
An importers caucus is scheduled for Wed., July 8 at 11:00 a.m. PT/1:00 p.m. CT/2:00 p.m. ET.
For nominating and caucus information, including organizations seeking certification and a list of CPOs and CIOs, contact Cotton Research and Promotion at (503) 313-2061 or CottonRP@usda.gov.
Bill Gillon, President & CEO of The Cotton Board, said “Serving on The Cotton Board is a meaningful way to contribute to the strength and future of our industry. We look forward to seeing a broad range of nominees from different backgrounds who bring fresh perspectives and a shared commitment to advancing cotton through research and promotion. Producer and importer participation is vital to the success of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program, and we are grateful to those willing to step forward and serve,” said Gillon.
Contact: StaceyGorman, Director of Communications, 901-233-9356
About the Cotton Board: The Cotton Research & Promotion Act established the Cotton Board as a quasi-governmental, non-profit entity to serve as the administrator of the Cotton Research & Promotion Program. Funded by America’s cotton producers and importers through the cotton check-off, the Program’s research and promotion activities are conducted worldwide by Cotton Incorporated, the Cotton Board’s sole-source contracting organization, to increase the demand for and improve the market position of cotton. The Cotton Research & Promotion Program continues to work in all areas of cotton’s pipeline – from the field to the consumer – to keep cotton the number one fiber choice in the U.S. For more information about the Cotton Board and the innovative activities stemming from the Program, visit www.cottonboard.org.
Welcome to the June 6, 2025 issue of Cotton News, a service provided by Plains Cotton Growers Inc. for the cotton industry in the Texas High Plains and beyond.
Photo courtesy of LoveShackFancy and Cotton Incorporated.
Cotton Incorporated is joining forces with globally recognized fashion brand, LoveShackFancy, and America’s Sweethearts, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders to put cotton front and center on the national stage in a bold and creative collaboration. This consumer-facing campaign builds cultural relevance, brand recognition, and demand for cotton at exactly the right time.
The “America’s Sweetheart Cotton Collection,” a curated line of cotton-rich clothing items, is the latest extension of Cotton Incorporated and LoveShackFancy’s “American Icons” fashion campaign. Created with inspiration from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, this limited-edition capsule collection features dresses, tops, accessories, and more—all made from soft, breathable cotton. The campaign’s launch was strategically timed to align with the return of the Netflix reality series Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: America’s Sweethearts, ensuring maximum visibility and cultural relevance.
“This collaboration is about much more than fashion – it’s about reinforcing cotton’s position as a fabric that represents strength, tradition, and modern American style,” said Kim Kitchings, Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing at Cotton Incorporated. “By aligning with cultural icons like the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and LoveShackFancy, we’re connecting cotton with the next generation of consumers in a way that’s emotional, meaningful, and memorable.”
For cotton producers, this effort is part of a broader strategy funded by the Cotton Research and Promotion Program to keep cotton top-of-mind for consumers. It reinforces the value of cotton in an increasingly competitive fiber marketplace. “This is a great example of how collaboration and new approaches can be used to share cotton with today’s consumers,” said Akiko Inui, Chair of The Cotton Board.
As published in a recent WWD (Women’s Wear Daily) article about the iconic collaboration, LoveShackFancy Founder and Creative Director, Rebecca Hessel Cohen said, “We love cotton, and it is our favorite fabric.” Earning that level of enthusiasm from such an influential voice in the fashion industry is already a significant win for cotton.
The Cotton x LoveShackFancy America’s Sweetheart Capsule Collection will be available to shop starting June 10th at loveshackfancy.com and in all LoveShackFancy boutiques nationwide. In addition to online sales and promotions in LoveShackFancy boutiques, Cotton Incorporated will help host a tailgate-themed event at LoveShackFancy’s Dallas boutique on June 21st, complete with a meet-and-greet with at least two members of the cheerleader’s team and the Cowboys’ mascot, Rowdy. Follow @DiscoverCotton on Instagram to see more on this iconic collaboration for cotton.
Originally written and published by Paul Neiffer with Farm CPA Report
FSA yesterday released FSA notice PL-313.
This notice provides updated guidance for calculating average gross income for purposes of meeting the more than 75% farm average gross income requirements under the ECAP program to allow for an increased payment limit.
These guidelines will likely be incorporated into Handbook 6-PL soon.
Some of the key items from the update are as follows:
Again, it is much easier for farmers to meet the more than 75% test for average gross income versus adjusted gross income and the updated guidance will help us calculate AGI.
By Ken Legé, Texas A&M AgriLife Cotton Extension Specialist for the Lubbock Center
Hopefully some of you were off work for the Memorial Day holiday because you received rainfall! Portions of the region had small to significant rainfall amounts overnight with continued chances (albeit small) for the next 7-10 days. Unfortunately, rain during this time of year can be accompanied by hail, but this is nothing new for West Texas.
Soil temperatures everywhere in the region are quite warm and should not be a hindrance to planting cotton. Soil moisture is altogether different and quite varied across the region. Generally, areas Lubbock northward are ‘drought-free’ according to the U.S. Drought Monitor (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/). However, this does not mean that surface moisture will be in good shape, so monitoring soil moisture and gauging how deep to place the seed will be key. The good news is that the forecasts do not show any significant wind events (beyond that which accompanies an isolated storm, of course).
The Texas panhandle area is facing a rather mild week, with some warming next week. Rain chances throughout this week should help with surface soil moisture, but may complicate getting the remainder of the crop in before the May 31 insurance deadline. Of course, insurance coverage includes a 1% per day reduction during the grace period following the deadline. Contact your insurance agent or RMA for more details. Suffice it to say, it is time to finish planting the cotton crop in the Texas panhandle!
Portions of the southern high plains received some badly needed rainfall overnight, but there are still isolated areas that are really dry. U.S. Drought Monitor still has most of the areas south of Lubbock as ‘D0 abnormally dry’ or ‘D1 moderate drought’ conditions, so any rain in those areas will be key to planting cotton. A few northern counties of the southern high plains area have a May 31 planting deadline, but the central counties generally have a June 5 deadline. Southern counties have a June 10 for irrigated and June 20 deadline for dryland. Again, it is important to check with your insurance agent or RMA for details about your county’s specific agronomic practice planting deadline.
Take a minute to remember those who gave their lives in defense of our country for this Memorial Day. We are thankful for their sacrifice that has allowed all of us the freedom to pursue our dreams in the greatest country on earth.
Be safe. Wear cotton!
To download the PDF version of this chart, click the image above.
To download the PDF version of this chart, click the image above.
Welcome to the May 23, 2025 issue of Cotton News, a service provided by Plains Cotton Growers Inc. for the cotton industry in the Texas High Plains and beyond.
This legislation contains key improvements and enhancements to the farm safety net, similar to what was seen in the House Agriculture Committee’s bipartisan, committee-passed Farm Bill package last year.
The bill now heads to the Senate for deliberation.
Jim Wiesemeyer with ProFarmer put together a breakdown of the entire legislation package that can be read here and here.
Combest, Sell & Associates developed a breakdown of the bill’s impact on the agriculture industry. You can view it below or download the PDF format here.
Sen. Cyndy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced legislation developed in cooperations with the National Cotton Council to boost demand for U.S. cotton.
Titled the “Buying American Cotton Act,” this bill would offer a transferrable tax credit to end-stage sellers of products that are made in whole or in part from U.S. cotton.
Under the legislation’s framework, items either fully manufactured in the U.S. or imported into the U.S. would be eligible for the credit, which is scalable depending on the degree of domestic cotton content or cotton processing. In addition, the seller would receive a higher credit for eligible items processed either wholly in the U.S. or in a country with which the U.S. has a free trade agreement.
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) has cosponsored the “Buying American Cotton Act,” along with Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL) and Roger Marshall (R-KS).
The highly anticipated report from the “Make America Health Again” commission was released Thursday, May 22.
One of the interesting highlights of the report was a focus on microplastics and their potential implications on children and adolescent health.
Here is one of the statements made in the report concerning microplastics:
“Microplastics: plastic fragments less than 5 millimeters in size used frequently in products such as clothing, medicine, and shower gels.277 One single-site study in 2025 showed that the concentration found in Americans’ brain tissue increased by 50% between 2016 and 2024. Some studies have additionally found that microplastics often carry endocrine-disrupting chemicals that interfere with hormonal development and potentially trigger early puberty — especially in girls — and heighten the risks of obesity, infertility, and hormone-related cancers.”
Many experts have recognized this issue as one that the cotton industry can take advantage of to promote our natural fiber for improving human and environmental health. The New York Times recently published an article emphasizing the need to reduce exposure to microplastics. The Washington Post published a story on microplastics with the digital version of the story showing interactively just how intensely these plastics invade our bodily systems.
While we are encouraged by the MAHA’s acknowledgement of microplastics and the need to reduce exposure, pesticide use has been caught in the crossfire.
Many groups have come together to provide educational resources for MAHA to consider when looking at pesticides. One of them is Modern Ag Alliance. Plains Cotton Growers partnered with Modern Ag Alliance on their latest campaign to protect much-needed chemistry that our producers depend on to feed and clothe the world and enhance environmental sustainability.
“As the certified producer organization for the Texas High Plains cotton industry, we strongly support access to crop protection products, while maintaining consumer safety,” said Kody Bessent, Plains Cotton Growers CEO. “When used according to the product label, glyphosate is a safe and effective tool for growers. “Absent key crop protection tools that are backed by sound science and a long history of EPA expert evaluation, producers of all commodities will struggle to control invasive species of plants and pests. This can create yield shortages and diminish quality of food and fiber, which will have a devastating impact on local, state and national economies and consumer health.”
To read the press release from Modern Ag Alliance, click here.
WASHINGTON, March 18, 2025 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, on National Agriculture Day, announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing up to $10 billion directly to agricultural producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year. Administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), ECAP will help agricultural producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices.
“Producers are facing higher costs and market uncertainty, and the Trump Administration is ensuring they get the support they need without delay,” said Secretary Rollins. “With clear direction from Congress, USDA has prioritized streamlining the process and accelerating these payments ahead of schedule, ensuring farmers have the resources necessary to manage rising expenses and secure financing for next season.”
Authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025, these economic relief payments are based on planted and prevented planted crop acres for eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year. To streamline and simplify the delivery of ECAP, FSA will begin sending pre-filled applications to producers who submitted acreage reports to FSA for 2024 eligible ECAP commodities soon after the signup period opens on March 19, 2025. Producers do not have to wait for their pre-filled ECAP application to apply. They can visit fsa.usda.gov/ecap to apply using a login.gov account or contact their local FSA office to request an application once the signup period opens.
Eligible producers must report 2024 crop year planted and prevented planted acres to FSA on an FSA-578, Report of Acreage form. Producers who have not previously reported 2024 crop year acreage or filed a notice of loss for prevented planted crops must submit an acreage report by the Aug. 15, 2025, deadline. Eligible producers can visit fsa.usda.gov/ecap for eligibility and payment details.
Producers must submit ECAP applications to their local FSA county office by Aug. 15, 2025. Only one application is required for all ECAP eligible commodities nationwide. ECAP applications can be submitted to FSA in-person, electronically using Box and One-Span, by fax or by applying online at fsa.usda.gov/ecap utilizing a secure login.gov account.
If not already on file for the 2024 crop year, producers must have the following forms on file with FSA:
Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet.
Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable).
Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity.
Form CCC 943, 75 percent of Average Gross Income from Farming, Ranching, or Forestry Certification (if applicable).
AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification.
SF-3881, Direct Deposit.
Except for the new CCC-943, most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, likely have these forms on file. However, those who are uncertain and want to confirm the status of their forms or need to submit the new Form-943, can contact their local FSA county office.
If a producer does not receive a pre-filled ECAP application, and they planted or were prevented from planting ECAP eligible commodities in 2024, they should contact their local FSA office.
ECAP payments will be issued as applications are approved. Initial ECAP payments will be factored by 85% to ensure that total program payments do not exceed available funding. If additional funds remain, FSA may issue a second payment.
ECAP assistance will be calculated using a flat payment rate for the eligible commodity multiplied by the eligible reported acres. Payments are based on acreage and not production. For acres reported as prevented plant, ECAP assistance will be calculated at 50%.
For ECAP payment estimates, producers are encouraged to visit fsa.usda.gov/ecap to use the ECAP online calculator.
If you have any questions, you may call our office at 806-792-4904.
The results of the Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation trials can be found at the following links:
2024 Crosby Co Mixed Technology Irrigated James RACE Final Results (PDF)
2024 Crosby Co Mixed Technology Irrigated Ware RACE Final Results (PDF)
2024 Crosby Co XtendFlex Only Dry James RACE Final Results (PDF)
2024 Crosby CO XtendFlex Only Irrigated Huffstutler RACE Final Results (PDF)
2024 Dawson Co XtendFlex Only Irrigated Cozart RACE Final Results (PDF)
2024 Gaines Co Enlist Only Dryland Hughes RACE Final Results (PDF)
2024 Gaines Co Enlist Irrigated RACE Final Results (PDF)
2024 Hale Co XtendFlex Only Irrigated Monroe RACE Final Results (PDF)
2024 Lamb Co XtendFlex Only Irrigated Edwards RACE Final Results (PDF)
2024 Lubbock Co Mixed Technology Irrigated Vardeman RACE Final Results (PDF)
2024 Lynn Co Mixed Technology Irrigated REN Voigt RACE Final Results (PDF)
2024 Lynn Co XtendFlex Dry Mires RACE Final Results (PDF)
2024 Terry Co Mixed Technology Irrigated Hogue RACE Final Results (PDF)
2024 Terry Co XtendFlex Irrigated Brown RACE Final Results (PDF)
Welcome to the January 31, 2025 issue of Cotton News, a service provided by Plains Cotton Growers Inc. for the cotton industry in the Texas High Plains and beyond.
Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) – Chair of the Senate Ag Appropriations Subcommittee
Editor’s Note: We are introducing a short series of articles in the next few issues of Cotton News detailing the Representatives and Senators serving on the House Agriculture Committee, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and the House Ag Appropriations and Senate Ag Appropriations Subcommittees.
This issue will feature the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations. This subcommittee will be referred to as “Senate Ag Appropriations” through the rest of the article.
This subcommittee is tasked with writing legislation that allocates federal funds to government agencies, departments and organizations for the agriculture industry.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) – Ranking Member of the Senate Ag Appropriations Subcommittee
Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), Senate Ag Appropriations Chair
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Senate Ag Appropriations Ranking Member
Megan Mills Singletary and Matthew Cole Woodard
We’re excited to announce that the following students took home banners at the 2025 Beltwide Cotton Conferences for their projects, which are partially funded by Cotton Incorporated’s State Support Program (Texas State Support).
Megan Mills Singletary — “Strategies for Controlling Dicamba-Resistant Palmer Amaranth in Texas and Tennessee”
First Place — Ph.D. oral presentation competition, Weed Science Conference
Project Funded by USDA NIFA and the Texas State Support Committee
Matthew Cole Woolard — “Does adjuvant selection impact AxantTM Flex cotton response when tank-mixed with topramezone and Liberty ULTRA?”
First Place — Ph.D. poster presentation competition, Weed Science Conference
Funded by BASF Corporation and the Texas State Support Committee
Lamesa’s average daily number of cotton samples received this week is 624. The office is currently 99% complete in the classing of their season estimate of samples.
Lubbock’s average daily number of cotton samples received this week is 5,060. The office is 99% complete in the classing of their season estimate of samples.
Reminder for Gins:
If gins are submitting samples for the Four Bale Module Averaging pilot program, the submitted modules must be designated with a R and they must be in multiples of 4. (4, 8, 12, 16 up to 48).
What you should know: Assuming Brooke Rollins is confirmed by the Senate as the new Secretary of Agriculture (confirmation hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on January 23, 2025), then the economic assistance will be processed quickly. The 90 days is a deadline the deadline for payments to be completed (March 21, 2025); however, payments will likely be issued before this.
What you should know: We do not yet know how the disaster assistance will be issued or how the payment methodology will be implemented. The development of this program will not begin until we have a confirmed Secretary of Agriculture and could take some time to formulate. We do not have any payment rates or calculations at this time.
By Ken Legé, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center Cotton Specialist
We are about 70% harvested with our southern high plains RACE trials, and hopefully will have the remainder in the barn once the much-needed rain moves out.
I have attached all the results to date. An official, final publication will be published after the first of the year, but I want to get these results out in time to be used for variety selection decisions.
We greatly appreciate the support of our grower/cooperators, the seed companies who have invested in these trials, and the monetary support from the Texas State Support Committee of the Cotton Board, and Plains Cotton Growers/Plains Cotton Improvement Program.
