Cotton
Shawn Hackett with Hackett Financial Advisors says the market fears that China will use the ruling as leverage to get out of its trade framework struck with the U.S. on Oct. 30 and that could include its soybean purchase commitments.
USDA’s chief economist says 2026 brings moderating costs, slightly higher crop prices and shifting acreage, but he warns biofuels policy and global competition remain key wild cards for farm income.
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.
The decision comes with new rules and what the agency calls the strongest safeguards ever imposed on over-the-top applications.
After years of steady growth, the U.S. agricultural land market is shifting and stabilizing.
A new multi-state monitoring network using unique diagnostic tools is hard at work, identifying herbicide-resistant weed populations faster so farmers can get a leg up on control before the problem gets totally out of hand.
After years of losses, debt is piling up and new government payments won’t fill the hole. At a breaking point, more farmers are expected to leave the business this year, some by choice, others forced out by lenders.
Darren Frye with Water Street Solutions says the trade guesses are fairly conservative with not many changes expected. However, that is not the history of the January reports. So could there be a surprise?
Arkansas farmer Nathan Reed says irrigation, insurance limits and global competition are deepening the downturn as Southern producers are now deciding what to plant based on what will lose the least amount of money.