According to the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) Planting Intentions Survey, U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 9.0 million cotton acres this spring, a 3.2% decline from 2025, with a nearly 21% drop in the Mid-South.

While the EPA has set federal regulations for 2026 applications, some states are implementing tighter calendar deadlines and temperature cutoffs.

Confidence in USDA reports is wavering after recent acreage misses, leaving many producers and retailers skeptical. While experts call it the “best data available,” transparency is needed to restore industry trust.

A minister with the Chinese Embassy calls for a “bigger-picture” relationship and expanded ag investment as Secretary of Agriculture Rollins and Secretary of War Hegseth sign a security pact to protect U.S. food systems.

Darin Newsom, Senior market analyst with Barchart, Inc. says the algorithm traders have been chasing the headlines of the China story and increased biofuels blending levels.

A quiet COVID-era policy removed pork from the schools’ menus. Now, the Illinois Pork Producers Association is fighting to restore this culturally relevant, nutrient-dense protein for 325,000 students.