Collins, GA |

Cotton continues to be a major driver of Georgia’s economy, contributing nearly $1 billion in statewide economic impact last year alone. But those numbers don’t come without months of hard work and preparation—efforts that begin long before a single seed hits the soil.

“Oh, that’s a lot of work,” says Willie Scott, a Tattnall County cotton grower. “You’ve got to watch your equipment and scout your fields. It’s a daily and weekly job—watching the weather, making timely inputs like spraying and fertilizing, and trying to work with the conditions you’re given.”

Now that planting season is officially underway, growers like Scott are focused on getting their crop off to the best start possible. Though harvest is still months away, timing is everything when it comes to yield.

“This time of year is important,” Scott explains. “You’ve got to have the right amount of moisture, the right temperature—not too cold, not too dry. Getting it in at the right time makes a big difference. It probably takes me about a week to get all of mine done. I told my wife, these next couple of weeks, don’t have anything planned for me.”

With dicamba no longer an option for weed control going into 2025, many producers are turning to cover crops and other strategies to keep fields clean—especially with margins tighter than ever.

“Watching input costs is very important,” says Scott. “You’ve got to pick the right variety and do proper farm management so you can cut costs without cutting yield. If you can start clean, Liberty still works. You hope to get all the weeds out early, and then use Liberty to clean up any pigweed that escapes.”

Market volatility has also led to strategic decisions around crop selection. Cotton prices are hovering around 67 cents per pound—less than half of what they were just two years ago. As a result, planted acres in Georgia dropped by 8% in 2024, including on Scott’s farm.

“Cotton is our main source,” he says. “But we did put corn in the program this year, and we have peanuts in the rotation as well. Still, cotton is my main crop.”

Despite the challenges that come with farming—rising costs, market swings, and regulatory changes—Scott says it’s a life he was born into and wouldn’t trade for anything.

“I’m a third-generation farmer. My grandfather bought this home place back in 1940. Then my father started farming. I grew up watching them, and it’s just something I knew I loved to do. It took off from there, and I took the reins and started doing it on my own.”