USDA Launches Great American Cotton Plan to Revitalize Cotton Farm Economy

This press release from Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) was published on 2026-09-10 and titled "USDA Launches Great American Cotton Plan to Revitalize Cotton Farm Economy".

USDA Launches Great American Cotton Plan to Revitalize Cotton Farm Economy

USDA Launches Great American Cotton Plan to Revitalize Cotton Farm Economy Thursday, May 28, 2026 CG46414 Thursday, September 10, 2026 American Ag Network USDA Launches Great American Cotton Plan to Revitalize Cotton Farm Economy By Jesse Allen (WASHINGTON D.C.) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday unveiled the Great American Cotton Plan, a sweeping initiative aimed at reversing years of financial losses for American cotton producers, rebuilding domestic textile manufacturing, and pushing back against the global dominance of synthetic fibers. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the plan as cotton growers head into a fifth consecutive year of negative returns, driven by rising input costs, trade distortions, and surging competition from cheaper petroleum-based materials like polyester. “Since 1607, cotton has helped build and sustain rural America. Our farmers grow some of the highest-quality cotton in the world, but over the last several years America’s cotton growers have been crushed by rising costs, unfair foreign competition, and a flood of cheap synthetic products,” Rollins said. “This change starts today.” USDA forecasts cotton producers could lose approximately $2.6 billion across 9 million planted acres during the upcoming crop year. Since 1980, the number of U.S. cotton gins has declined from 2,254 to just 446, while domestic textile production has sharply contracted over the past two decades. In 2023, the U.S. lost its status as the world’s top cotton exporter to Brazil. Meanwhile, the global market has tilted heavily toward synthetics — nearly 70 percent of the world’s textile fibers are now plastic-based materials such as polyester. American-grown cotton represents only 4 million of the 20 million bales consumed in the U.S. each year. Despite those headwinds, cotton remains one of the most economically significant crops in the country. USDA estimates every $1 generated at the cotton farm gate creates approximately $15 in direct economic activity across related industries. According to USDA, The Great American Cotton Plan is structured around four key areas: Promoting Domestic Cotton Consumption USDA and HHS are promoting the “Plant Not Plastic” initiative to encourage consumers to choose products made with American cotton USDA is ensuring the BioPreferred Program remains funded so biobased products, including cotton products, can continue using the BioPreferred label USDA is implementing increased marketing loan rates for upland and extra-long staple cotton authorized through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act Providing Affordable Cotton by Increasing Domestic Demand and Production USDA is prioritizing cotton processors and manufacturers within Rural Development’s Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program to increase domestic production capacity The Economic Adjustment Assistance for Textile Mills program payment rate will increase from 3 cents to 5 cents per pound of cotton processed USDA will continue working with Congress to support the bipartisan Buying American Cotton Act Improving Cotton Trade USDA is implementing the Administration’s Three-Point Trade Plan to expand export opportunities for U.S. cotton Cotton Council International participated in an Agribusiness Trade Mission to Indonesia for the first time in program history earlier this year USDA and USTR secured commitments from Indonesia and Bangladesh that will support future U.S. cotton purchases and textile production using American cotton USDA continues supporting cotton exports through the Market Access Program and COTTON USA™ licensing initiatives Protecting Cotton Growers from Adverse Risk USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists are advancing research efforts to combat the spread of the cotton jassid pest Cotton producers now have expanded access to Supplemental Coverage Option insurance tools The Working Families Tax Cuts Act increased the seed cotton reference price for ARC and PLC programs by 14 percent beginning in fall 2026 The National Cotton Council commended the news on Thursday. “Measures like BACA, along with the USDA’s Great American Cotton Plan and other recently implemented cotton initiatives, demonstrate key progress for America’s cotton industry,” said NCC Chairman Nathan Reed. “At a time when cotton producers are facing pressure from high input costs and market uncertainty, these steps are critical to the long-term success of our industry.” The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives praised the announcement as a significant step forward for producers and the cooperatives that serve them. “Today’s announcement is a major win for cotton farmers and the farmer co-ops that serve them,” said Kevin Brinkley, NCFC chairman and president and CEO of Plains Cotton Cooperative Association. “In particular, the support for the Buy American Cotton Act and the Plant Not Plastic initiative will have a tremendous, positive impact for producers. We thank Secretary Brooke Rollins and the Trump A