Louisiana Cotton Specialist Sees Good Yields

By Dr. Shelly Kerns

Cotton Farming

We are nearing the very end of cotton harvest here in Louisiana, with the exception of a some later planted acres. So far, growers have reported picking around 1,200 lbs. to 1,600 lbs., with some reports nearing or surpassing 2,000 lbs. per acre. We will have a better estimate on a state lint yield average once turnout numbers start rolling in. Regardless, we are looking well on track to smash the state yield average from the past few years.

Although we are at an all-time low for cotton acreage in Louisiana (anticipated to come out to about 80,000 acres), our quality looks better than last year so far.  Both plant bug and plant pathogen pressure were low this year, which helped plants thrive. Additionally, Louisiana was in a unique position compared to some other states in the Mid-South.

At the beginning of the season, heavy rain hit other states hard, while we received pop up showers here and there. This allowed our cotton to form a very hearty root system from the start, which helped carry our crop smoothly into reproductive growth phases. The quality of the crop has many cotton growers in good spirits and looking forward to growing cotton again next year. With an overabundance of corn grown in Louisiana this year, and with increasing fertilizer and input costs, it will be interesting to see how crop trends flux again next growing season.

With new incentives recently passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), growing cotton is becoming more favorable as the risks are being better managed through new federal programs and crop insurance options. In conjunction with these new incentives, if the markets shine in our favor as we move into next growing season, I hope to see an increase in cotton acreage next year for our state.