NCC Survey Suggests U.S. Producers to Plant 9.0 Million Acres of Cotton in 2026

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 9.0 million cotton acres this spring, down 3.2 percent from 2025, according to the National Cotton Council’s 45th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey. (see table attached)

Upland cotton intentions are 8.8 million acres, down 3.4 percent from 2025, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 161,000 acres represent a 14.0 percent increase. The detailed survey results were announced today during the 2026 National Cotton Council Annual Meeting.

Dr. Jody Campiche, the NCC’s Vice President, Economics & Policy Analysis, said, “Planted acreage is just one of the factors that will determine supplies of cotton and cottonseed. Ultimately, weather and agronomic conditions are among the factors that play a significant role in determining crop size.”

Based on average abandonment rates and yields, Cotton Belt harvested area totals 7.1 million acres for 2026 with an estimated crop of 12.7 million bales. This includes 12.3 million upland bales and 393,000 ELS bales. 

The NCC questionnaire, mailed in January to producers across the 17-state Cotton Belt, asked producers for the number of acres devoted to cotton and other crops in 2025 and the acres planned for the coming season. Survey responses were collected through the end of January.

Campiche noted, “History has shown that U.S. farmers respond to relative prices when making planting decisions. As compared to average futures prices during the first quarter of 2025, cotton prices during the 2026 survey period were almost the same, corn prices were slightly lower while soybean prices were slightly higher. As a result, the price ratio of cotton to corn was slightly higher and the price ratio of cotton to soybeans was lower than in 2025. Based on historical price relationships and the small change in price ratios, this would generally suggest little to no change in cotton acreage.”

Southeast respondents indicate a 4.9 percent decline in cotton acreage to 1.6 million acres. In Alabama, the survey responses indicate a 0.1 percent increase in cotton acreage. In Florida, respondents indicated 11.1 percent less cotton. Georgia growers expect to reduce acreage by 3.6 percent to 805 thousand acres. Georgia’s 2025 acreage of 835 thousand was the lowest level since 1993 and only the fourth time that GA growers planted less than 1.1 million cotton acres in the last 30 years. The survey indicates a decline in cotton acreage of 6.0 percent in North Carolina, 10.5 percent in South Carolina, and 17.9 percent in Virginia. According to the survey responses from Southeast growers, the expected decline in cotton acres is due to an increase in corn, soybeans and other crops. Georgia and Virginia growers reported little to no change in peanut acres, while the other Southeast states expect to reduce peanut acreage in 2026.

Mid-South growers intend to plant 1.2 million acres, a decline of 20.6 percent from the previous year. In Arkansas, acreage is expected to decline by 30.3 percent, while Louisiana growers expect to plant 17.1 percent more cotton. In Mississippi, cotton acreage is expected to decline by 15.8 percent. Missouri growers expect to plant 25.0 percent less cotton, while Tennessee acreage is expected to decline by 12.5 percent. Survey responses suggest an increase in corn and soybeans.

Growers in the Southwest intend to plant 1.6 percent more acres of cotton. Kansas growers expect to plant 9.6 percent more cotton acres at the expense of wheat and soybeans. Oklahoma producers expect to increase cotton acreage by 15.7 percent and plant less sorghum and wheat. Texas acreage is expected to increase by 0.4 percent. South Texas growers also expect to plant more cotton, corn, and wheat and less sorghum. In the Blacklands, growers intend to plant less cotton and more sorghum. West Texas growers reported a slight increase in cotton acres, less corn and more wheat, sorghum, and other crops.  

In the West, upland cotton acreage is expected to decline by 7.2 percent. Upland cotton acreage is expected to decline by 4.2 percent in Arizona and 4.4 percent in California. New Mexico growers intend to plant 17.6 percent less upland cotton acres in 2026. According to the survey responses, California growers expect to plant less cotton, corn, wheat, and more other crops. In Arizona, growers expect to plant less cotton, corn, wheat, other crops, and more sorghum. 

ELS acreage is expected to increase by 14.0 percent in 2026. Arizona growers expect to increase ELS cotton acres by 3.2 percent while California growers expect to plant 8.0 percent more ELS cotton. New Mexico ELS cotton acreage is expected to decline by 20.6 percent, while Texas growers expect to plant 69.8 percent more ELS cotton. Overall, U.S. cotton growers intend to plant 161,000 ELS acres in 2026. 

NCC delegates were reminded the expectations are a snapshot of intentions based on market conditions at survey time with actual plantings influenced by changing market conditions and weather. Producers will continue to monitor changes in commodity prices and input costs before finalizing their 2026 acreage decisions. 

(table attached below)