The Texas Farm Bureau estimates the cotton crop in the US could be the largest in 11 years, citing a report from the US Department of Agriculture. Texas Farm Bureau Director, Commodity & Regulatory Activities, Government Affairs Gene Richardson says low price in commodities is enticing more American farmers to plant more cotton this year.
"When you have to look at corn and sorghum and any of the speciality crops that come and go in the marketplace. Cotton was the best bet to break even or make a little money," Richardson said. Richardson says the US Department of Agriculture is projecting 6.4 million acres of cotton will be planted in Texas this year, which is 1 million higher compared to last year.
The Texas Farm Bureau estimates corn acreage to be down 500,000 this year and sorghum to be down about 100,000 acres in Texas.
A farm owner, who decided to plant 450 acres of cotton this year instead of corn because of economic reasons, said: "This year, we chose to grow cotton over the corn crop because of the price and last fall, we were able to contract some cotton, which we thought it was more profitable than growing corn."