U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced The Great American Cotton Plan this week. It is an initiative from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote the cotton industry. The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) applauds the announcement and is appreciative of the support shown to cotton producers across the country.
“Cotton producers across the state are thankful for Secretary Rollins’ efforts to bolster cotton production and the overall industry,” said GCC Chairman Bart Davis, a Colquitt County cotton producer. “Enhancing ongoing industry collaborations related to cotton jassid research as well as promoting domestic consumption of cotton by highlighting the industry’s Plant Not Plastic initiative and championing the Buying American Cotton Act gives cotton producers a large spotlight at a crucial time.”
The Great American Cotton Plan includes several points of action that will be taken to increase demand and prevent risk.
To increase the demand for cotton, The Great American Cotton Plan is promoting the National Cotton Council’s Plant Not Plastic campaign, an initiative that raises awareness about microplastics and other health concerns relating to synthetic fibers. The USDA initiative is supporting legislation such as the Buying American Cotton Act, a tax credit incentive for brands and retailers who use American cotton, yarn and fabric in their products, to promote domestic consumption.
The Great American Cotton Plan also aims to protect producers from risk, specifically the cotton jassid, through research efforts of the USDA Agricultural Research Service. The findings of this research will be vital to understanding this pest and will support ongoing research led by Phillip Roberts at the University of Georgia.
Highlights of Plan
More highlights of the actions USDA is taking to support the cotton industry include:
Promoting Domestic Cotton Consumption
- Plant Not Plastic initiative (with other federal agencies): educate consumers on benefits of natural fibers.
- After a lapse in mandatory funding, USDA is ensuring the BioPreferred Program remains funded so cotton products can continue to get certified to use the BioPreferred label.
- Drafting implementation rules (slated for June) pursuant to the Working Families Tax Cuts to ensure increased marketing loan rates for upland cotton.
Providing Affordable Cotton by Increasing Domestic Demand and Production
- Working Families Tax Cuts:
- Reauthorized the Pima Agriculture Cotton Trust Fund through 2031 — $16 million annual support for manufacturers/associations.
- Increased payment rate in the Economic Adjustment Assistance for Textile Mills (EAATM) program — helps American cotton mills upgrade facilities.
Improving Cotton Trade
- Opening global markets for American cotton.
- Revitalizing export finance opportunities.
- E.g., Indonesia will import at least 163,000 metric tons of U.S. cotton annually for 5 years, then maintain at least 150,000 metric tons of imports.
- COTTON USA Licensing Program through USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP) — leveraging $13+ M in FY26 to drive global demand.
- USDA also supports legislative efforts to increase the domestic consumption of cotton, such as the Buying American Cotton Act. This bipartisan bill incentivizes retailers to sell more products made of U.S. cotton, making it more affordable for everyday Americans.
Protecting Cotton Growers from Adverse Risk
- USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has begun research efforts to control the new cotton jassid pest spreading through the U.S.
- Beginning next Monday, June 1st, eligible farmers can begin the process of adding additional base acres to their farms in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (P-L-C) programs — USDA is adding an additional 30 million acres nationwide, the 1st time this has been expanded in over 2 decades.
Source: Georgia Cotton Commission