NCC Survey Suggests U.S. Producers to Plant 9.0 Million Acres of Cotton in 2026

Feb 13, 2026

U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 9.0 million cotton acres this spring, down 3.2 percent from 2025, according to the National Cotton Council’s 45th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey. (see table attached)

Upland cotton intentions are 8.8 million acres, down 3.4 percent from 2025, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 161,000 acres represent a 14.0 percent increase. The detailed survey results were announced today during the 2026 National Cotton Council Annual Meeting.

Dr. Jody Campiche, the NCC’s Vice President, Economics & Policy Analysis, said, “Planted acreage is just one of the factors that will determine supplies of cotton and cottonseed. Ultimately, weather and agronomic conditions are among the factors that play a significant role in determining crop size.”

Based on average abandonment rates and yields, Cotton Belt harvested area totals 7.1 million acres for 2026 with an estimated crop of 12.7 million bales. This includes 12.3 million upland bales and 393,000 ELS bales.

The NCC questionnaire, mailed in January to producers across the 17-state Cotton Belt, asked producers for the number of acres devoted to cotton and other crops in 2025 and the acres planned for the coming season. Survey responses were collected through the end of January.

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Video: Understanding Nitrogen Loss Through Denitrification

Denitrification is one of the three main pathways for nitrogen loss, but what is it really, and how much nitrogen do we stand to lose?

In this episode, Lyle Cowell is joined by Dr. Erin Daly from the University of Guelph to break down denitrification and the conditions that drive nitrogen loss in the soil. They explore how nitrogen can be lost as nitrous oxide and nitrogen gas, what conditions drive losses and when they are most likely to occur.

Erin also shares how CanN2ONet, a national research network, is helping us better understand nitrous oxide emissions across Canada. From field towers that measure emissions to research into regionally tailored best management practices, discover how the network is working to help growers improve nitrogen use efficiency and help reduce nitrogen losses across the country.