At the start of 2025, the U.S. cotton industry is facing some tough times right now, according to National Cotton Council president and CEO Gary Adams.

“It’s tough from an economic standpoint for producers,” said Adams this week at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences in New Orleans. “We have seen costs that have increased substantially over the last several years. In fact, as we look at the comparing, say this year relative to 2018, we’re probably up on average about $200 per acre on cotton cost of production.”

Adams says getting a farm bill done is a big priority with the new Congress and new administration this year. “Our message to Congress in general is one, let them know the challenging economic circumstances that are out there,” said Adams. “We feel good, certainly with I some good friends to the cotton industry that now chair both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees. Senator John Bozeman takes over the helm of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Congressman GT Thompson, although not from a cotton belt state, has certainly been supportive of the cotton industry.”

Listen to an interview with Adams and his remarks on the state of the U.S. cotton industry and outlook for the farm bill from the Beltwide Cotton Conferences.

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