US cotton producers to plant 9.6 million acres in 2025, NCC survey reveals

US cotton producers plan to plant 9.6 million acres in 2025, a 14.5 per cent decrease from 2024, according to the National Cotton Council's (NCC) 44th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey. Of this, 9.4 million acres are upland cotton, and 158,000 acres are extra-long staple (ELS) cotton, marking declines of 14.4 per cent and 23.5 per cent, respectively.

The survey highlights significant regional drops, particularly in the Southeast, where cotton acreage is expected to decrease by 19.3 per cent, including Georgia’s anticipated 21.5 per cent reduction.

The Mid-South and Southwest also show a drop, with Texas expecting a 15.8 per cent drop. Meanwhile, New Mexico is poised to increase upland cotton planting by 17.3 per cent while California and Arizona anticipate large reductions in ELS cotton.

The decline in cotton acreage is largely attributed to lower cotton prices compared to other crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat. Weather conditions and market dynamics will further influence final planting decisions, with NCC delegates noting the evolving nature of these intentions. The US cotton crop is forecast to yield 13.9 million bales in 2025.