Organic Cotton Market Summary

If you missed getting a copy of the USDA Organic Cotton Market Summary put out by the Agricultural Marketing Service, then let me provide the report here. This report is for the 2024 market year and typically this report comes out in August of the next year or in this case, August 2025.

Production

The 2024 organic Upland and American Pima cotton production in the U.S. totaled 56,717 bales, according to information collected from organic producers, marketing associations, and gins that process organic cotton. Production increased by 17,458 bales from the previous year. An additional 1,201 transitional bales were reported. Texas continues to lead organic cotton plantings and production, with additional acreage in Arizona, California, and New Mexico.

Cottonseed

Organic cottonseed prices ranged from 385 to 620 dollars per ton. This compares to 235 to 385 dollars per ton for conventional cotton. Cottonseed yields ranged from 460 to 775 pounds of seed per bale of ginned lint. With most of the cottonseed being sold to organic dairies, some was saved for oil and livestock feed.

2025 Crop Outlook

Early season storms and a tornado destroyed many acres in Texas and were not replanted in organic American Pima because of a lack of available planting seed. Some fields were replanted with organic Upland. The stands that survived advanced with the above-average April through July rainfall. Abundant rainfall encouraged weed populations to explode, and fields were cultivated to mitigate weeds. Hoe crews manually removed stray weeds hidden in the rows. Stands in Arizona, California and New Mexico progressed and were regularly irrigated. Demand was very light.

My comments

Last year’s organic prices were a rollercoaster, and many dryland producers just didn’t get timely rains to give them a harvest. This year again prices started the year down and have continued to be bearish. Offers of $1.50 on upland were possible but limited.