The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new initiative to boost cotton production nationwide.
Arizona’s cotton farmers hope to benefit.
The USDA’s Great American Cotton Plan includes efforts to assist in pest research and farmer financial aid, and increase cotton exports. Brazil overtook America to be the top cotton exporter in 2023.
While initially a staple of Arizona’s economy, cotton production has fallen drastically since its peak in the '70s.
And as trade prices have dropped, farming costs have only risen.
“A cotton picker in the 1990s was $40,000. Today, it's $1.3 million. So for them to be trading cotton at the same price. It just doesn't pencil to be a cotton farmer," said Jaydee Roehner, executive director of the Arizona Cotton Growers Association.
She says she hopes the new plan will help farmers, but is cautious.
“America has lost a lot of infrastructure overseas, and realistically, I'm not sure if that's something for cotton that will ever ever return," Roehner said.
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