
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


When the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed on July 4th, 2025, it marked a turning point for America's cotton farmers after years of economic hardship. But what exactly does this legislation mean for growers across the Cotton Belt, and how did the industry secure these critical policy wins?
In this revealing conversation, Camp Hand hosts three key cotton industry leaders—Taz Smith from the National Cotton Council, Kody Bessent from Plains Cotton Growers, and Taylor Sills from the Georgia Cotton Commission—to break down the groundwork and advocacy that led to this watershed moment. The panel reveals how a unified cotton industry approached Congress with compelling economic data showing hundreds of millions in losses, convincing lawmakers that American agriculture faced an existential threat without significant policy improvements.
The results are substantial: reference prices for seed cotton jumped from 36.7 cents to 46 cents, potentially tripling PLC payments for many producers. Payment limits increased from $125,000 to $155,000 and are now indexed to inflation. Producers gained the flexibility to simultaneously participate in PLC and area-wide insurance coverage—a long-sought change that enhances risk management options. These provisions extend through 2031, providing unprecedented long-term stability.
Yet challenges remain. The first payments under these new programs won't reach farmers until October 2026, creating an immediate cash flow crisis for operations already stretched thin. The panel discusses efforts to secure bridge assistance and the proposed Buy American Cotton Act, which would provide tax incentives to boost demand for U.S. cotton amid intensifying global competition from Brazil and Australia.
Whether you farm cotton in drought-prone Texas, hurricane-threatened Georgia, or anywhere across the Cotton Belt, you'll want to attend one of the National Cotton Council's upcoming educational sessions this September. With complex decisions ahead about base acre updates and program participation, these regional meetings offer crucial guidance to maximize your benefits under this landmark legislation. Dates and locations for these meetings can be found at this link: https://www.cotton.org/news/releases/2025/ncc-farm-bill-meetings.cfm
Listen now to understand how the cotton industry's remarkable unity delivered this policy victory and what you need to know to navigate the road ahead.
By Extension Cotton Specialists5
1515 ratings
When the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed on July 4th, 2025, it marked a turning point for America's cotton farmers after years of economic hardship. But what exactly does this legislation mean for growers across the Cotton Belt, and how did the industry secure these critical policy wins?
In this revealing conversation, Camp Hand hosts three key cotton industry leaders—Taz Smith from the National Cotton Council, Kody Bessent from Plains Cotton Growers, and Taylor Sills from the Georgia Cotton Commission—to break down the groundwork and advocacy that led to this watershed moment. The panel reveals how a unified cotton industry approached Congress with compelling economic data showing hundreds of millions in losses, convincing lawmakers that American agriculture faced an existential threat without significant policy improvements.
The results are substantial: reference prices for seed cotton jumped from 36.7 cents to 46 cents, potentially tripling PLC payments for many producers. Payment limits increased from $125,000 to $155,000 and are now indexed to inflation. Producers gained the flexibility to simultaneously participate in PLC and area-wide insurance coverage—a long-sought change that enhances risk management options. These provisions extend through 2031, providing unprecedented long-term stability.
Yet challenges remain. The first payments under these new programs won't reach farmers until October 2026, creating an immediate cash flow crisis for operations already stretched thin. The panel discusses efforts to secure bridge assistance and the proposed Buy American Cotton Act, which would provide tax incentives to boost demand for U.S. cotton amid intensifying global competition from Brazil and Australia.
Whether you farm cotton in drought-prone Texas, hurricane-threatened Georgia, or anywhere across the Cotton Belt, you'll want to attend one of the National Cotton Council's upcoming educational sessions this September. With complex decisions ahead about base acre updates and program participation, these regional meetings offer crucial guidance to maximize your benefits under this landmark legislation. Dates and locations for these meetings can be found at this link: https://www.cotton.org/news/releases/2025/ncc-farm-bill-meetings.cfm
Listen now to understand how the cotton industry's remarkable unity delivered this policy victory and what you need to know to navigate the road ahead.

151 Listeners

231 Listeners

1,877 Listeners

364 Listeners

21 Listeners

49 Listeners

122 Listeners

385 Listeners

10 Listeners

44,005 Listeners

343 Listeners

1,194 Listeners

1,642 Listeners

14 Listeners

24 Listeners