The future of harvest aid chemicals is discussed. Predictions are based on past and present experience. It is predicted that there will be more pressure on current products and that promising new products may never make the marketplace. Even so, within the next 3-5 years there should be new and improved harvest aid chemicals with low use rates, minimal residues, and low odor, improved crop management practices, and non-chemical defoliation methods. Biotechnology and conventional breeding down the road offer the possibility for self-defoliating cotton plants without use of chemicals or with reduced chemical use, although this might require significant changes to the cotton plant. The future direction of the cotton industry will be guided by how well it controls stewardship of product use, awareness of public concerns, adherence to use restrictions and use of chemicals, and continued adoption of viable new technologies.