Josh Lee
I think country singer and Alabamian Riley Green sang it best: “I wish the price of gas was low and cotton was high.” This has been the anthem on repeat for cotton prices in the 2025 season. Despite prices not being where we would like them to be, cotton producers always adapt and make the best out of the situation. The 2025 season in Alabama started off to a very wet planting season and delayed planting for a large portion of North Alabama. Growers were forced to plant late (late May into June), and management was all about maturing a crop ASAP due to a shortened growing season. However, there was little rainfall during August and September, and some areas like East Central Alabama became very dry.
Overall, when the dry period came in the late part of the season, many acres already had cracked bolls in the field. Dry conditions and ample sunshine created a recipe for quickly maturing the crop and decreasing the days until harvest. Under these dry conditions, there was little boll rot and hardlock across the state, especially in Central and South Alabama. Some producers noticed higher yields than previous years due to being able to harvest bolls toward the bottom of the plant. This was especially the case in fields with rank vegetative growth that typically receive rainfall during August and September.
There are always curveballs and new obstacles in cotton production, and 2025 did not disappoint. Shortly after I started this role, I was introduced to a new cotton pest known as the two-spot cotton leafhopper (commonly called the cotton jassid). Extensive research on this pest is continuously being conducted throughout the Southeast. There is much to learn, and I am working closely with Auburn’s Extension cotton entomologist to give growers the information they need. One thing is for sure in 2026: scouting cotton will be vital for managing cotton jassids. Timeliness will be key.
So, what happens in 2026? Unfortunately, I can’t look into a crystal ball and tell you what the future has in store. What I do know is that cotton producers will have to be timely with their management strategies (especially for insects) and be willing to adapt in 2026. Remember that Auburn Extension is here to help! Please don’t hesitate to contact your local regional Extension agent or specialist for more information.
joshlee@auburn.edu