Record prices, surprising yields, and (mostly) favorable weather combined to give us a year like we haven’t seen in a good while. And although all signs point to more cotton acres across the U.S. in 2022, there are still some factors and unanswered questions that could impact the final total.
Read MoreCotton prices across the nation are some of the highest seen since 2014 and many growers on the South Plains also saw a great season.
“This really has been a very unique year and one for the records,” said CEO of Plains Cotton Growers, Kody Bessent.
While harvesting went off without a hitch, some growers have now hit a snag when it comes to selling their cotton.
Read MoreDon’t expect the dizzying heights of $1.21 per pound, but the cotton outlook appears relatively solid for 2022. Bouncing up from 11.2 million planted acres in 2021, the Cotton Belt could see 12 million acres in 2022, and possibly more, contingent on a mercurial La Niña.
Read MoreThe U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol will be featured in the upcoming episode of EARTH with John Holden. EARTH is hosted by six-time Emmy Award winner John Holden, who takes viewers around the globe to showcase eco-friendly initiatives that are enhancing the lives of Earth’s inhabitants through health, business, and various other advanced technologies and solutions.
Read MoreRushing to get a few more soil samples for nematode testing ahead of a freeze, I moved quickly across a cotton field near Fort Valley, Ga. I was far from alone. A steady stream of cars and trucks sped by as drivers hunted empty gas pumps. Hungry passengers craved brisket at a very large and very nearby convenient roadside stop.
Read MoreEd Barnes knows the pulse of technology in cotton, from the farm to the mill.
Technology has advanced rapidly since the agricultural engineer joined Cotton Incorporated in 2002, making it an exciting time to work in the industry. Advances show no sign of slowing, making cotton more proficient every step of the way in the years ahead.
Read MoreThe U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (Trust Protocol) offers unrivaled transparency and visibility of cotton through the supply chain, backed by an unparalleled level of independently verified data from our grower members.
The Trust Protocol has made significant strides in its first year. We have established a new system for sustainably grown cotton from scratch. One that now counts over 560 organizations across the supply chain as members.
Read MoreThe preliminary results have been formulated by the LSU AgCenter on the various cotton varieties planted across Louisiana this past growing season.
Read MoreThe cotton market ignored the notions of seasonals, deliveries and holidays to close markedly higher Friday. Traders thought there was an element of Chinese buying in the mix. Thus, the ICE futures posted their fifth consecutive week of higher closings. Supposedly cotton prices in China are higher and that is causing textile mills there as well as the U.S. managed-money funds to increase their buying. However, some traders feel there still will be some sort of seasonal correction next week.
Read MoreBoth the A-Index and New York futures prices have experienced exuberant rallies in recent months, reaching levels well above $1.00 per pound. From the time of USDA’s first forecast for MY 2021/22 in February 2021 through September, the A-Index surged roughly 15 cents from the mid 80-cent range, coinciding with a tightening of world stocks in USDA’s projected balance sheet.
Read MoreThe American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is expanding the lineup of popular educational games on its My American Farm platform with a new game that introduces players to how cotton is planted, grown, cared for, harvested and turned into clothes.
Read MoreCotton prices found a favorable move in front of the USDA November supply demand report and maintained that momentum despite a neutral report. The market continues to be dominated by the bullish cotton on-call sales position. Too, with just six trading sessions before first notice day (FND), the certainty of a squeeze on the December contract adds to the bullish short-term outlook.
Read MoreSan Antonio, Texas, is the destination city for the Beltwide Cotton Conferences Jan. 4-6, 2022. The Cotton Consultants’ Conference will be held Tuesday, Jan. 4, noon-6 p.m., for all registered attendees.
The consultants’ meeting will provide technical pest management and production-related updates from industry experts.
Read MoreThis month’s 2021/22 U.S. cotton estimates are largely unchanged from October. The U.S. production forecast is slightly higher, at 18.2 million bales, while domestic mill use and exports are unchanged. U.S. ending stocks are 200,000 bales higher at 3.4 million—19 percent of use—and 250,000 above the previous year.
Read MoreAlan Lowman picked up the smart tablet, made a few swipes on the screen. The map popped up. There was one just up the road that would be good to go check.
Just outside the southwest Georgia cotton field, the yellowish-green cone sat atop the fiberglass stake about three feet off the ground. "Stand back," Lowman said.
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