Tennessee cotton production predicted to drop by one-third in 2024

Despite high yield in the 2023 growing season, statewide cotton production is estimated to drop by approximately one-third in 2024 due to heavy rainfall throughout the month of May, the ideal planting window for this essential row crop.

“Every opportunity we had in May, we saw the planting window open slightly and then slam shut with a big rainfall event,” says Tyson Raper, cotton and small grains Extension specialist with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. “Cotton seedlings usually struggle to survive if planted in front of heavy rain, so it was a difficult planting season for most farmers in Tennessee.”

In March, Tennessee was expected to produce upwards of 325,000 acres of cotton during the 2024 growing season. Now, Raper says predictions are at less than 225,000 acres. “We may just break 200,000 acres, which is an extremely low number for our state.”

Requiring warm soil temperatures associated with late spring, cotton producers across the Mid-South wait until May to plant in order to avoid yield loss. However, planting after June 1 has also been shown to impact yield, resulting in a short but critical planting season for a row crop that contributed over $250 million to Tennessee’s economy in 2023.

Raper says soybeans are the recommended alternative for those who were unable to finish planting. “Soybeans are generally cheaper to plant and maintain. Additionally, they can be planted later than cotton. Due to our challenging May, many of our cotton acres switched to soybeans towards the end of the month and into early June. UT Extension is working closely with farmers to ensure they still have a good harvest, and we hope to see greater cotton production return next season.”

For questions on cotton production and how producers can adjust their strategies for the 2024 growing season, please contact your local county Extension office.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture comprises the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.