A 2005 survey from the Greenfield, Mass.-based Organic Trade Association (OTA) shows 12 US
farmers planted 5,550 acres of organic cotton in 2004 — a 37 percent increase from 2003 totals of
4,060 acres. Of that acreage, 5,020 contained organic upland cotton, while 530 were planted with
organic Pima cotton. Most of the acreage was in Texas, followed by California, New Mexico and
Missouri.
In 2005, there were 6,577 acres of planted organic cotton, mostly of the upland varietal.
That total represented a 19-percent increase over 2004.
In terms of harvesting, 2004 saw 6,814 bales of organic cotton, compared to 4,628 in 2003,
according to the survey and additional information from the Lubbock-based Texas Organic Cotton
Marketing Cooperative. Harvesting figures for 2005 are not currently available.
OTA reports that of the 52 people surveyed last year in seven states, 21 farmers responded,
including 12 organic cotton farmers and nine who did not grow organic cotton in 2004. The
association also notes that because only eight of the 16 Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative
members answered the survey, the organic cotton acreage and farmers numbers may be lower than
actual figures.
The survey was funded by a grant from Cary, N.C.-based Cotton Incorporated.
February 21, 2006
