Soil organic matter improves soil chemical properties, which includes the increase of nutrient status, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and anion exchange capacity. Soil organic matter is also known for the slow release of nutrients to the plants, protects nutrients in available forms to the plants, and reduces nutrient leaching.
Read MoreU.S. cotton producers intend to plant 9.6 million cotton acres this spring, down 14.5% from 2024, according to the National Cotton Council’s 44th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey.
Upland cotton intentions are 9.4 million acres, down 14.4% from 2024, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 158,000 acres represent a 23.5% decline.
Read MoreThe U.S. cotton industry is robust, and Missouri ginner Jeff Lindsey understands that very well. Now that he is in the final weeks of his presidency of the Southern Cotton Ginners Association (SCGA), he even better recognizes the grand scale.
Read MoreThe farm economy has been tightening for years and now, 2025 could be make or break for some farmers. With that in mind, the MidSouth Farm and Gin Show is focusing on programming to help farmers find small ways to reduce expenses or increase profitability, according to the show’s director Tim Price.
“We’ve been in a cycling of tightening belts on farms and in agricultural budgets for a while now,” Price explains.
Read MoreAfter a full week of lower prices, the market renewed its teasing with four consecutive days of higher moves. That appeared positive until one realized that the weekly March settlement was only 65.63 – up a few meager 10 or so points on the week.
Read MoreAs cotton producers prepare for #Plant25, over 20 new cotton varieties are commercially available. Here is the annual roundup, featuring the 2025 releases that provide an array of options for farmers throughout the Cotton Belt.
Read MoreI started attending the Beltwide Cotton Conferences in 1985, so I think this year represents my ruby anniversary. New Orleans was fun – good friends, good food, and lots of discussion about the cotton market. Here are a few points that I picked up on in the Economics and Marketing section.
Read MoreCotton hit a positive note this past week in the export sales report, but we will need more. Too, there is another positive note that merits a few comments as well
Read MoreBen McKnight, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife State Extension Cotton Specialist, was named the 2025 Beltwide Extension Cotton Specialist of the Year during the recent Beltwide Cotton Conferences in New Orleans, LA.
The 36th recipient of the award, McKnight received the honor during an awards dinner sponsored by Bayer Crop Science.
Read MoreThe 2024/25 U.S. corn outlook calls for lower production, feed and residual use, exports, and ending stocks. Corn production has been revised downward by some 276 million bushels to an estimated 14.9 billion bushels, mainly due to a 3.8-bushel per acre cut in yield to 179.3 bushels which was partially offset by a 0.2-million acre increase in harvested area. Total corn use is down 75 million bushels to 15.1 billion.
Read MoreDemand for U.S. cotton has appeared weak for several years. The weak demand was balanced out by short U.S. cotton crops in 2022 (drought) and 2023 (drought, too wet, and then too hot). 2024 started off promising but ended with a mix of wet/hot/dry in places around the Cotton Belt. Some folks had decent production, but most everybody was sunk by the market, which fell from the mid-80s to under 70 cents between early planting season and harvest.
Read MoreAs farmers begin making plans for the upcoming growing season, many are bracing for the likelihood of another year marked by tight margins.
“Production costs for 2025 are estimated to decrease for the second consecutive year, which is good news,” said LSU AgCenter economist Michael Deliberto.
Read MoreU.S. cotton growers can now enroll in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and apply for the Climate Smart Cotton Program for the 2025 crop year. Grower enrollment specialists are available to provide personalized, regional-specific support, answer questions, and guide producers through the process
Read MoreLouisiana corn area harvested is 440,000, down 35 percent from 2023. The average yield is estimated at 185 bushels per acre, up 10 bushels from last year. Production totaled 81.4 million bushels, down 32 percent from 2023.
Upland cotton harvested acres is 148,000, up 29 percent from 2023. The yield is expected to average 1,070 pound.
Read MoreSustainability is now a key component in cotton production around the world. And no more so than in the U.S., where cotton growers have multiple industry and corporate options for participation. Many dedicated people have invested many hours in developing, nurturing, and driving these programs to their current levels over the past several years.
Among all of those folks, you’ll find Ted Schneider.
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