2025 cotton loan rate fixed at 52 cents

Jan 03, 2025
By Farms.com

USDA supports cotton producers with loan rate update

The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation has set the 2025 marketing assistance loan rate for upland cotton at 52.00 cents per pound. This program ensures farmers have interim financing, allowing them to store crops post-harvest and sell when market prices improve.

The loan rate applies to base quality upland cotton, defined by traits such as a colour grade of 41, micronaire of 3.5-4.9, and uniformity of 80.0-81.9%. These standards ensure consistent support for cotton producers across the U.S.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 regulates the loan rate, ensuring it reflects global market trends while staying within the 45 to 52 cents per pound range. This mechanism stabilizes cotton production and trade, providing producers with financial flexibility.

FSA plays a crucial role in delivering USDA programs, helping farmers invest in and sustain their agricultural operations. From conservation to disaster recovery, USDA initiatives contribute to a resilient and equitable agricultural sector.

Learn more about USDA programs by visiting fsa.usda.gov.

Video: Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard

On Friday, April 24, 2026, from 12 noon–1:00 ET, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s (PDA) Agricultural Business Development Center (ABDC), presented this webinar in the Understanding Agricultural Law Educational Series, a course designed to develop subject matter literacy and competence on fundamental issues of agricultural law for attorneys and business advisors who work with or represent agricultural or rural clients but may not necessarily specialize in agricultural law:

“Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard”

The Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program requires transportation fuel sold in the United States to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, or advanced biofuels. Established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and later expanded by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the RFS is implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This webinar provides an overview of the legal authority and structure for the RFS program and explain how it works, including the program’s system of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) and categories of renewable fuels. Additionally, this webinar addresses EPA annual volume requirement rulemaking and associated recent legal issues.