USDA launches Great American Cotton Plan to support growers, textile industry 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the Great American Cotton Plan, a federal initiative aimed at strengthening the cotton farm economy, expanding domestic textile manufacturing and increasing demand for products made with U.S.-grown cotton. 

According to USDA, cotton producers are projected to lose about $2.6 billion across 9 million planted acres during the upcoming crop year. The department said producers have faced negative returns for five consecutive years. 

USDA also said the United States lost its position as the world’s top cotton exporter to Brazil in 2023.  

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said the Great American Cotton Plan is intended to address financial pressures facing cotton producers, including rising input costs, foreign competition and increased use of synthetic fibers.  

“The Trump administration is committed to ensuring American cotton once again becomes the fiber of choice with the Great American Cotton Plan—a bold effort to restore profitability for cotton producers, strengthen rural economies, rebuild domestic textile manufacturing, and bring American cotton back into the products families use every day,” Rollins said. “Supporting natural fibers like cotton also aligns with the Make America Healthy Again agenda as Americans grow increasingly concerned about microplastics and synthetic materials in everyday products. Cotton is natural, breathable, biodegradable, and proudly grown by American farmers—not manufactured from petroleum-based plastics that can shed microplastics into our soil, water, and bodies.” 

Four strategies of the Great American Cotton Plan 

The plan includes four areas of focus: promoting domestic cotton consumption, increasing domestic demand and production, improving cotton trade, and reducing production risks for growers. 

As part of the initiative, USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are promoting a “Plant Not Plastic” campaign encouraging consumers to purchase products made with natural cotton fibers instead of synthetic materials. 

USDA said nearly 70% of the world’s textile fibers are synthetic and primarily plastic-based materials, such as polyester. 

The agency said it will continue funding the BioPreferred Program, which allows bio-based products, including cotton products, to use the BioPreferred label. 

The plan also includes increased marketing loan rates for upland and extra-long staple cotton authorized through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. 

Cotton manufacturing, trade, and insurance 

To support domestic manufacturing, USDA said it will prioritize cotton processors and manufacturers through the Rural Development Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program. The department also announced the Economic Adjustment Assistance for Textile Mills program payment rate will increase from 3 cents to 5 cents per pound of cotton processed. 

USDA said it will continue supporting the bipartisan Buying American Cotton Act, legislation intended to encourage retailers to carry more products made from U.S. cotton. 

The trade portion of the plan includes support for cotton exports through the Market Access Program and COTTON USA licensing initiatives.  

USDA also said the Cotton Council International participated in an agribusiness trade mission to Indonesia earlier this year and that USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative secured commitments from Indonesia and Bangladesh supporting future purchases of U.S. cotton. 

The plan also addresses production risks. USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists are conducting research on the cotton jassid pest, while cotton producers will have expanded access to Supplemental Coverage Option insurance tools. 

In addition, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act increased the seed cotton reference price for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs by 14% beginning in fall 2026. 

Industry response 

The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives praised the administration’s plan. 

“Today’s announcement is a major win for cotton farmers and the farmer co-ops that serve them,” said Kevin Brinkley, chairman of NCFC and president and CEO of Plains Cotton Cooperative Association. “In particular, the support for the Buy American Cotton Act and the Plant Not Plastic initiative will have a tremendous, positive impact for producers. We thank Secretary Brooke Rollins and the Trump Administration for their commitment to American cotton and to the farmers who grow it.” 

USDA said it will continue working with industry groups, manufacturers, growers, retailers and Congress on policies aimed at strengthening the cotton supply chain. 

Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].