Strong yields, premium fiber, and a price that refuses to budge—this season is a study in contrasts. We open with hard numbers: Georgia sits near 70% harvested and ahead of the five-year pace, while USDA’s updated estimate pegs statewide yield around 983 pounds per acre on roughly 830,000 harvested acres. Classing results are bright across the board, with color, staple, strength, and micronaire pushing many bales into premium territory, even as low 60s prices test patience and cash flow.

From there we head to the edges of the map, where a sharp freeze exposed weaknesses in late-planted and deer-damaged cotton. Our field notes from damage trials show how timing, wildlife pressure, and cold combine to shut down unopened bolls. If your fields are mostly open and you’re chasing leaves, a lean defoliation program at lower rates can finish the job now that temperatures have moderated. We also swap cab-seat lessons from a long day of overheated hydraulics, frayed belts, and roadside close calls—a reminder to winterize equipment, respect the road, and plan safe routes home.

Pest pressure took a turn as well. The frost likely knocked back whitefly reproduction by wiping host plants, while jassid counts on yellow sticky cards stayed highly variable, often tied to proximity to defoliated cotton and roadside goldenrod. We explain what the cards are telling us, why adult feeding isn’t the same as reproduction, and how county agents and collaborators are helping map hotspots across South Georgia. Looking ahead, we’ll bring more targeted guidance to county meetings this winter and spring, so tell your agent what you want covered, from variety selection to jassid thresholds and late-season timing.

We also take a moment for the people behind the pickers. If stress is heavy—tight margins, long days, or uncertainty—reach out. County agents can connect you with resources, and peers can be the extra strands in a cord that won’t easily break. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review so more growers can find it.