Cotton is grown across 17 states in the southern half of the United States, stretching from Virginia to California in a region known as the Cotton Belt. The country produces roughly 14.4 million bales per year, making it the world’s third-largest cotton producer and the leading exporter, accounting for one-third of global raw cotton trade. The entire U.S. cotton industry generates more than $21 billion in products and services annually and supports over 125,000 jobs from farm to textile mill.
Texas Dominates U.S. Cotton Production
Texas is by far the biggest cotton state, contributing approximately 40 percent of all U.S. cotton production in recent years. That means nearly half the cotton grown in the country comes from a single state. Much of it is concentrated in the Texas High Plains, a semi-arid region west of Lubbock where farmers rely heavily on irrigation and drought-tolerant varieties. Texas has the longest growing window of any major cotton state, with planting starting as early as mid-March and harvesting stretching from August all the way into December.
After Texas, the next largest producers are Georgia, Mississippi, and Arkansas. These four states together account for the majority of the national crop, though the remaining 13 Cotton Belt states collectively contribute a significant share.
Four Distinct Growing Regions
The Cotton Belt is typically divided into four regions, each with different growing conditions and farming approaches.
The Southeast includes South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. This region benefits from fertile soil and long, humid growing seasons. Georgia, the second-largest producing state, typically plants in early May and harvests from late September through mid-November. Farms here have historically been rain-fed, though more growers have added irrigation as droughts have become more frequent and severe.
The Mid-South covers Arkansas, Tennessee, and Louisiana. Cotton here is cultivated in rich river valley land, particularly along the Mississippi River Delta. The flat terrain and deep alluvial soils make this region well suited to large-scale mechanized farming.
The Southwest is dominated by Texas and Oklahoma. As noted, Texas alone dwarfs every other state in output. The climate here is drier, so production depends more on irrigation and varieties bred to tolerate heat and limited rainfall.
The West includes California, Arizona, and New Mexico. These states use advanced irrigation systems and highly mechanized operations. California plants in a tight April window and wraps up harvest by early November. While western irrigated acreage has declined in recent decades due to water constraints, the region remains important for specialty cotton production.
Two Types of Cotton, Two Different Locations
The vast majority of U.S. cotton is Upland cotton, a versatile variety grown in all 17 Cotton Belt states. It accounts for the t-shirts, jeans, and bedsheets most people buy. Upland cotton grows well in a range of climates, which is why it thrives from the humid Southeast to the arid Southwest.
The other variety is American Pima cotton, sometimes marketed as extra-long staple cotton. Pima fibers are longer, silkier, and stronger, making them the preferred material for high-end dress shirts and luxury linens. Pima cotton is grown almost exclusively in the southwestern states, particularly in south-central Arizona, parts of California, New Mexico, and west Texas. It requires a long, hot growing season with minimal rain during harvest, conditions the desert Southwest delivers reliably.
When Cotton Is Planted and Harvested
Cotton is a warm-season crop that needs about five to six months from planting to harvest. The exact timing varies by state and climate, but the general pattern runs from spring planting through fall picking.
- Texas: Planting begins in mid-March, peaks in early May, and wraps up by early June. Harvesting starts in August and can run as late as early December, the widest window of any state.
- Georgia: Planting runs from late April through early June, with most activity in early May. Harvest begins in late September and finishes by mid-November.
- California: Planting is compressed into April. Harvest runs from mid-September through early November.
Southern states with warmer springs get a head start on planting, while states farther west benefit from dry fall weather that makes harvesting easier and reduces the risk of rain-damaged fiber.
Irrigation Versus Rain-Fed Farming
How cotton gets its water depends heavily on where it’s grown. In the western states, the arid climate makes irrigation essential for virtually all cotton production. Texas High Plains farmers pump groundwater from the Ogallala Aquifer, while Arizona and California growers rely on canal systems and drip irrigation.
In the Southeast and Mid-South, cotton farming has traditionally depended on rainfall. That’s been shifting. Increased frequency and severity of drought across the eastern U.S. has pushed more farmers to install irrigation systems, blurring the old line between the “irrigated West” and the “rain-fed East.” Still, a Georgia or Arkansas cotton field generally needs far less supplemental water than one in Arizona.
Organic Cotton Production
Organic cotton remains a small fraction of overall U.S. output. In 2024, total organic Upland and Pima cotton production came to just 56,717 bales, a tiny slice of the 14.4 million-bale national crop. Texas leads in organic acreage and production, with additional organic fields in Arizona, California, and New Mexico. The concentration in the Southwest makes sense: drier climates naturally have fewer pest and disease pressures, reducing the need for synthetic inputs and making organic certification more practical.
Recent Production Trends
U.S. cotton production has fluctuated in recent years, largely driven by weather. The 2024/25 crop came in at 14.4 million bales, a 19 percent jump from the previous year but still the third-smallest harvest since 2015/16. The USDA projects 14.6 million bales for 2025/26, a modest 1 percent increase. Drought, particularly in Texas, has been the biggest swing factor. A dry year on the High Plains can slash national output by millions of bales, while a favorable growing season can push production well above trend.