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National Cotton Council: U.S. Farmers plan fewer cotton acres in 2026

U.S. farmers are expected to plant fewer upland cotton acres this spring, due to lower prices.

A recent grower survey from the National Cotton Council says farmers intend to plant nine million acres, a decline of 3.2 percent from last year.

The largest acreage shift lower is expected in the Delta, led by Arkansas and Missouri, with acres expected to fall 25 to 30 percent from last year’s crop in those two states. Corn and soybeans are expected to be planted instead.

The southwest United States,Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, is expected to increase in upland cotton acres this spring, along with extra-long staple cotton acres.

The National Cotton Council says weather and price will be the determining factors for planted acres this spring.

Cotton planting typically begins later this month in South Texas.