Low cotton demand is pushing Georgia's farmers out of the industry

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Shrinking global demand for cotton is putting pressure on Georgia's farmers.

Credit: USDA FAS

Cotton has long been a staple crop for Georgia’s farmers, but with shrinking demand, some farmers are bowing out.

The crop was first planted in Georgia in 1734, but nearly 300 years later, the crop has fallen out of favor with manufacturers in favor of cheaper, oil-based products like polyester.

Camp Hand is the University of Georgia’s Extension cotton agronomist. He said that decreased demand has pushed many farmers out of the industry.

“There’s lot of farmers who've gotten out," he said. "There's a lot of farmers who are only farming this year because of the federal assistance in response to Hurricane Helene.”

Hand notes that polyester use can contribute to microplastic pollution, and that Georgia’s businesses can look to cotton as a sustainable, high-quality product if they want to support the shrinking cotton-farming economy.