A check of cotton markets in 2025

If one were to type “U.S. farming” into Google, it is likely that the page that pops up would be filled with images of golden-brown fields of wheat or corn, or neat rows of soybeans. But often forgotten in U.S. agriculture, especially in parts of the Midwest and other northern regions, is cotton production.

Though not around for as long as corn, cotton has been grown in America since before the introduction of both wheat and soybeans and today is usually the fourth- or fifth-largest crop on an area basis behind the previously mentioned big three and also hay.

At the world level, the U.S. is the third leading cotton producer behind China and India but is number one in the world in annual exports due to lower manufacturing costs in Asia and...