California Steps Up to the Cotton Leadership Plate

The latest USDA Prospective Plantings report signals a significant drop in U.S. cotton acreage for 2025. The report estimates all cotton planted area at 9.87 million acres, marking a 12 percent decline from last year. Upland cotton is projected at 9.71 million acres, also down 12 percent, while American Pima acreage is expected to shrink even further—down 24 percent to just 157,000 acres.

As the cotton industry braces for tighter acres, a California leader is stepping into the spotlight on the global stage. Carlo Bocardo, a cooperative official from Bakersfield, will serve as the 2025 president of Cotton Council International, the export promotion arm of the National Cotton Council. CCI conducts outreach in more than 50 countries under the COTTON USA™ brand, promoting American cotton to global textile manufacturers and brands.

Bocardo’s election, which took place at the National Cotton Council’s Annual Meeting in Dallas, underscores California’s continued influence in shaping the national cotton conversation—especially in the premium Pima segment where the state plays a key role.