On October 19, the Trump Administration and USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced plans for the Harvest Fuel Relief (HFR) program that will offer one-time payments to American farmers to offset fuel costs during the 2026 harvest season. The $8 billion program will act similarly to the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program and will release commodity-specific payment rates in …

(Washington, D.C., October 19, 2026) – Today, President Donald J. Trump, alongside U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make $8 billion available for one-time payments to American farmers this harvest season to provide relief during temporary market disruptions and increased input costs. “President Trump is the most pro-farmer president of my …

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The National Cotton Council (NCC) appreciates the Trump Administration’s announcement allowing the stacking of endorsements for area-wide coverage, a policy change that will provide cotton producers with additional flexibility and risk management options as they navigate ongoing economic and production challenges. “Effective risk management tools are essential for cotton producers as they make decisions for their operations,” …

ATLANTA, GA – Today, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper released the following statement on Governor Brian Kemp’s extension of the state gas tax suspension through November 5 and waiver of state penalties for the highway use of dyed diesel. Harper praised Governor Kemp for taking action to provide continued relief for Georgia families, farmers, truckers, and businesses. “Lower fuel …

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The National Cotton Council (NCC) greatly appreciates President Trump’s Executive Order providing temporary diesel tax relief by deferring the federal excise tax on dyed diesel used on-road through the end of the year and taking steps to help ensure farmers have access to dyed diesel fuel during periods of high demand. “Cotton producers rely on diesel fuel …

As we enter full swing for defoliation and harvest on the 2026 cotton crop, we should probably reflect first on how we got to this point. Thank goodness, in 2026 you all got us back over 1 million acres planted. Planting was something of a roller coaster (too dry, followed by too wet), and then some parts of Georgia turned …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 28, 2026 Contact: Marjory Walker mwalker@cotton.org 901-274-9030 NCC Statement on U.S. – China Board of Trade Outcomes MEMPHIS, Tenn.  – The National Cotton Council appreciates the Trump Administration’s efforts to improve trade relations between the United States and China and welcomes the inclusion of cotton among the products identified for potential tariff adjustments. “Efforts to reduce …

It’s officially fall, and by the time you read this you may have already harvested your first field of cotton for the year, which means it won’t be long before it’s time to plant cover crops. With so many different types of covers/species/cultivars/mixes floating around now, it’s worth digging into how to make sure you are selecting the correct species …

My interest in entomology began in high school through FFA, where I first learned how much insects can influence agricultural production and became interested in helping farmers manage the problems they cause. I competed in the FFA entomology and creed speaking contests and was selected as a national agriscience finalist to present a research project—experiences that ultimately led me to …

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The National Cotton Council (NCC) celebrates the bipartisan Buying American Cotton Act (BACA) reaching 100 congressional co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives. Today, Representative James Gallagher (R-CA) became the 100th House co-sponsor of the legislation. This achievement is the latest sign of growing momentum for the bill in Congress. BACA is one of only two newly …

Harvest season is upon us again. While we are not into harvest fully, it will not be long. As we move into full harvest season there are few considerations for both our machines and safety so that we are ready. First I would start with equipment maintenance. We could focus most of a newsletter on the maintenance of the machine, …

Authors: Bart L. Fischer, Joe L. Outlaw, Henry L. Bryant, Hank R. Nelson, Natalie G. Stewart, J. Marc Raulston, Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University. The ARC/PLC election & enrollment for 2026 is now live through December 11. You can access AFPC’s decision tool here. Earlier this week, USDA announced (link) that the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and …