TEXTILES.ORG
On May 28, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the Great American Cotton Plan, a comprehensive United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative to strengthen the cotton farm economy, restore domestic textile manufacturing, expand cotton trade opportunities and increase demand for products made with American-grown cotton.
Cotton remains one of the most economically significant crops in the United States, supporting producers and rural communities. USDA estimates every $1 generated at the cotton farm gate creates approximately $15 in direct economic activity across related industries.
However, the cotton industry continues facing severe economic pressure. USDA forecasts producers could lose approximately $2.6 billion across 9 million planted acres during the upcoming crop year. Since 1980, the number of U.S. cotton gins has declined from 2,254 to 446, while domestic textile production facilities have sharply contracted over the last two decades.
“Since 1607, cotton has helped build and sustain rural America. Our farmers grow some of the highest-quality cotton in the world, but over the last several years America’s cotton growers have been crushed by rising costs, unfair foreign competition, and a flood of cheap synthetic products. In 2023, we lost our status as the world’s top cotton exporter to Brazil. This change starts today,” said Rollins.
As part of the plan, USDA will elevate the “Plant Not Plastic” initiative to encourage consumers to purchase products made with natural American cotton fibers rather than synthetic plastic-based alternatives.