Farm Progress
Cotton industry deploys actions to ensure survival
A sustainability campaign and expanding to new markets are just a couple ways cotton growers and organizations are trying to boost the industry.
By Ron Smith, Contributing Writer, Farm Progress
David Dunlow has grown cotton for 40 years, and he wants to continue.
Dunlow farms with his son, William, in Northampton County, N.C. The current economic outlook for cotton, he said, is the worst he has experienced. First thing the industry needs is legislation to stop its fiscal bleeding.
The cotton industry is responding and working to improve that grim outlook through several projects, initiatives and with legislation.
Chad Brewer, vice president of Technical Services at the National Cotton Council, said the council is backing a bill that would incentivize companies to use U.S. cotton.
“Mississippi Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith introduced the ‘Buying American Cotton Act,’” Brewer said. “The council and the cotton industry are putting a lot of effort behind that on Capitol Hill and in meetings with legislators.”
He said the bill seeks to:
- Encourage the consumption of cotton that originated in the United States and products made from such cotton.
- Document the processing of such cotton through a trustworthy supply-chain tracing system, such as the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.
If enacted into law, the bill would offer tax breaks and other incentives to companies that use U.S.-grown cotton.
Plant, not plastic
Brewer said the recently launched campaign called “Plant, not Plastic” encourages consumers to consider the effects microfibers have on the environment and on human health.
“Cotton is a natural fiber, is biodegradable and does not accumulate in the food chain,” he said. “Microfibers, even if not ingested, get into water systems and into the food supply. ‘Plant, Not Plastic’ is creating public awareness around the tie between textiles and their role in creating microplastics.”
Building markets
The U.S. consumes roughly the equivalent of 19 million bales of cotton annually.
“As producers, we want to grow that 19 million bales and have a sustainable industry. We're trying to capture that U.S. market,” David Dunlow said.
Brewer said Cotton Council International plays a role in building markets. “In early summer I went with a CCI industry delegation to Pakistan, where we met with mill owners to promote U.S. cotton, looking for better ways to do business together.”
The Dunlows said another NCC initiative could help federal regulatory agencies understand farm practices and challenges.
Talking with regulators
Last summer, the Cotton Foundation hosted 13 federal regulators on a tour in North Carolina and Virginia, where they visited producers like the Dunlows, Cotton Incorporated and a spinning mill. The tour featured open dialogue between farmers and agency representatives.
“The people I met on that tour had a micro view of agriculture,” William said. “They're extremely detail oriented but had not considered agriculture from a 30,000-foot view. Many had no idea of the price of cotton, no idea what a cotton picker cost and no idea of the financial challenges we face.”
Farmers are not just numbers, he said, but are real people trying to provide for their families. “We shared ideas, and I hope it opened their eyes to what we do on the farm,” Williams said.
“Most of the folks who come on these tours are chemists, biologists, or in other branches of science. Most have had little or no interaction with agriculture,” Brewer said. “They are experts in their fields, but the only way for them to understand how their decisions affect agriculture is to meet folks like David and William. Getting them on a farm makes a difference.”
“I think the most impactful exercises ag organizations can perform is to bring people to our fields to meet real farmers. I think it will have a lasting impact on many of them. They're trying to do good work, and I hope they left feeling the same about us,” Williams said.
“We are in the cotton business,” David added. “Even though we planted a lot less acreage than we used to in 2025, we still consider ourselves cotton farmers.”
Brewer said the National Cotton Council’s Technical Service group is exploring other ways to keep cotton a viable option for U.S. agriculture.
Addressing challenges
Brewer said NCC wants producers to have access to all the tools they need.
“Over the last few years, cotton has faced significant challenges, including pesticide registrations. The key mission of the Cotton Foundation is to provide education and outreach to producers, the public, legislators and regulatory agencies,” he said.
David Dunlow said the farm has grown cotton since 1956 and survived the 1980s, market fluctuations and the boll weevil. He hoped the industry and his farm can continue to grow cotton because “we want to remain cotton farmers.”