California Cotton Growers Cut Back, But Not Out
As cotton planting season gets underway across California’s Central Valley, growers are facing another year of tight margins and difficult decisions.
Jody Campiche, Vice President of Economics and Policy Analysis with the National Cotton Council, says new survey data shows producers nationwide are planning to scale back cotton acreage in 2026.
She explains, "Based on the survey that we did throughout the month of January, U.S. growers said they're growing to plant nine million acres of cotton and that's down about 3.2% from last year. This will be the fourth year in a row where costs are projected to exceed market revenue and, while the enhanced farm safety net will provide higher support, more assistance will be needed to cover all of the losses."
That trend is also showing up in California, where overall cotton acreage is expected to decline, though some growers are shifting into higher-value Pima cotton varieties.
With tighter margins and ongoing uncertainty, 2026 is shaping up to be another challenging year for cotton producers in the state. Campiche adds there is some cautious optimism, with a slight increase in global cotton consumption expected.
