Navigating the “winter” in cotton farming in 2023

Yangxuan Liu, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia Cotton prices in the year 2022 are like a roller coaster ride, combined with an increase in volatility and the highest price achieved for the past decade (Figure 1). Multiple rapid market rallies in the cotton market were observed in 2022, followed by a quick withdrawal of …

Speakers Announced: Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting Jan. 25, 2023

The Georgia Cotton Commission is pleased to announce the guest speakers at the Commission’s 2023 Annual Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center. The annual meeting is held in conjunction with the UGA Cotton Production Workshop conducted by the UGA Research & Extension Cotton Team. The UGA Cotton Production Workshop will feature breakout sessions …

Looking Ahead to the 2023 Cotton Market

For planning purposes, it is never too early to think about next season’s opportunities and risks.  To start with, we’re still not settled on the size of the 2022 cotton crop. USDA forecasted the latter back in May at over 16 million bales, and their November forecast is two million fewer.  Many in the southern plains expect more downward revision.  If the old …

Miller and Moon Presented 2022 King Cotton Awards

County UGA Cooperative Extension Service agents are an important resource for Georgia cotton farmers.  Agents are known for delivering timely and accurate information, which is instrumental for the success of Georgia’s farmers.  They also perform community specific research, education and outreach programs designed to help farmers maximize yields and efficiency. The Georgia Cotton Commission sponsored the King Cotton Awards to …

Risk Management Considerations for the 2023 Growing Season

The risk faced by producers in the 2022 growing season was unprecedented. As farmers were in the field preparing to plant their crop, Russia invaded Ukraine fueling uncertainty across the world and in agricultural input markets. A few months later, rain fell across the midsouth causing a great deal of yield losses stemming from late planting and prevented planting (Figure …

An Early Look at the Farm Safety Net for Cotton in 2023

From wild swings in commodity prices to an explosion in input costs that would make the Consumer Price Index (CPI) blush, agricultural producers have been riding a rollercoaster over the past year.  The purpose of the farm safety net – the combination of Federal crop insurance and the traditional farm bill programs like Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage …

The Drought, Exports, and Cotton Prices

The drought of 2022 in Texas has taken its toll on U.S. cotton production, with USDA forecast 13.8 million bales (mb) (or 3.7 mb lower than 2021). Lower output equals lower exports, with current forecasted exports of 12.5 mb, down 14% from the previous year (See Figure 1). That also means lower ending stocks, currently estimated at historically low levels …

2023 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Offering Insight on Latest Innovative Technology, Research

The 2023 Beltwide Cotton Conferences (BWCC), set for January 10-12 at the New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans, La., will offer attendees timely updates on the latest research, technology and issues affecting U.S. cotton production and processing. The BWCC, coordinated by the National Cotton Council, annually brings together university and USDA researchers, regulatory agencies, extension personnel/agents, consultants, and industry sales/support …

In Uncertain Times, Producer Turns to Cotton

Caroline Gentry, Georgia Cotton Commission Fifth-generation Putnam County Dairyman Chad Davis operates Green Glades Farm with his father Russell Davis and uncle Heck Davis. Green Glades Farm was established in the late 1940s when Chad’s grandfather, Jack Davis bought farmland and started his own dairy operation. In addition to dairy, Chad also grows sweet corn, sorghum, hay, wheat and rye. …

Refinement of U.S. Cotton Production Forecasts

The picture painted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) of U.S. cotton production has been reframed several times this year already.  In August, USDA cut a historically large three million bales off of their previous month’s forecast.  The direction of that adjustment was not a surprise to anybody, but the size of it surely was.  Then, in September, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics …