This paper gives an overview of the U.S. and world supply and demand situation for cotton. It discusses cotton production in four other major producing countries--Russia, Pakistan, India, and China. China will continue in 1989-90 to be the key to major price movements. The would carryover on August 1, 1989 is projected to be 33.7 million bales. Of this amount 9.2 million bales will be U.S. carryover (compared to 5.77 million bales carryover last year). This and a projected carryover of 8.3 million bales on August 1, 1990 are both out of line with what is desirable. Across the U.S. this season the quality of cotton has been good. In the months ahead, there must be changes in the regulations under the Food Security Act of 1985 to allow competitive pricing.