Tifton, GA |
With Georgia ranking as the second largest cotton-producing state in the nation, ensuring growers are up to date on recent policy changes is critical for the industry’s future. Recognizing that need, the National Cotton Council recently hosted a series of informational meetings across the state to help farmers navigate the shifting legislative landscape.
“We are doing these across the cotton belt… and really, it’s important for growers to understand what the new provisions are of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” said Gary Adams, President of the National Cotton Council. “This is going to affect some of the decisions that they have to make, particularly as they move towards the 2026 crop. And really, with the financial situation that’s out there right now for growers, it couldn’t have come at a better time.”
The legislation offers a degree of relief and clarity amid uncertainty, as the most recent Farm Bill—passed seven years ago—had become increasingly outdated.
“We started this process in 2021,” said Taylor Sills, Executive Director of the Georgia Cotton Commission. “We were hoping we were going to have a Farm Bill in 2023 and then one in 2024. And we’re very grateful to have gotten the assistance from Congress and the administration… but it certainly was a long time coming. The safety net was still there. The holes just got bigger.”
For many producers, the big question is whether the updates will bring tangible economic relief. Adams says they will.
“There’s a significant increase in the reference price… that’s up about fourteen percent,” Adams explained. “There’s also an opportunity for some farms to add base acreage. And then, finally, there’s some critical changes for crop insurance that’s going to give more affordable options to growers to provide higher levels of coverage.”
Still, industry leaders acknowledge that policy changes alone won’t fix everything.
“The cotton industry is in a rough spot right now,” Sills said. “These policy changes are beneficial, but they’re not everything that’s going to help a producer’s bottom line. There are other issues the industry is tackling—some of which are policy-related—but all are focused on demand and consumption.”
That challenge has become more urgent as cotton acreage in Georgia continues to shrink.
“Producers in the state are really facing a hard time,” Sills added. “We’re the lowest in cotton acreage that we’ve been since 1992 or 1993… that’s a big enough alarm in my opinion.”
As the state’s cotton community works to rebuild and adapt, the recent meetings served as a timely opportunity for farmers to gather information, ask questions, and plan for what’s ahead.
By: Damon Jones