Georgia Cotton Price — USDA NASS Monthly & MYA Data
Georgia Cotton price reached $0.69/lb in May 2026 — $0.02/lb below the US average of $0.71/lb. Monthly price received by producers, sourced directly from USDA NASS.
Cotton monthly price trend
Georgia vs the US average, last 24 months of USDA NASS data
| Month | Georgia price | US average |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-01 | $0.63/lb | $0.60/lb |
| 2020-02 | $0.61/lb | $0.61/lb |
| 2020-03 | $0.56/lb | $0.58/lb |
| 2020-04 | $0.54/lb | $0.55/lb |
| 2020-05 | $0.59/lb | $0.55/lb |
| 2020-06 | $0.59/lb | $0.57/lb |
| 2020-07 | $0.61/lb | $0.60/lb |
| 2020-08 | $0.62/lb | $0.57/lb |
| 2020-09 | $0.60/lb | $0.59/lb |
| 2020-11 | $0.70/lb | $0.63/lb |
| 2020-12 | $0.70/lb | $0.66/lb |
| 2021-01 | $0.75/lb | $0.69/lb |
| 2021-02 | $0.76/lb | $0.73/lb |
| 2021-03 | $0.74/lb | $0.70/lb |
| 2021-04 | $0.75/lb | $0.71/lb |
| 2021-05 | $0.74/lb | $0.71/lb |
| 2021-06 | $0.75/lb | $0.73/lb |
| 2021-07 | $0.76/lb | $0.75/lb |
| 2021-11 | $0.88/lb | $0.86/lb |
| 2021-12 | $0.92/lb | $0.88/lb |
| 2022-01 | $1.02/lb | $0.96/lb |
| 2022-02 | $1.02/lb | $0.99/lb |
| 2022-03 | $0.96/lb | $1.04/lb |
| 2022-06 | $0.98/lb | $0.98/lb |
| 2022-10 | $1.08/lb | $0.86/lb |
| 2022-11 | $1.00/lb | $0.80/lb |
| 2022-12 | $1.01/lb | $0.85/lb |
| 2023-01 | $0.90/lb | $0.81/lb |
| 2023-02 | $0.93/lb | $0.80/lb |
| 2023-03 | $0.87/lb | $0.83/lb |
| 2023-05 | $0.95/lb | $0.86/lb |
| 2023-11 | $0.81/lb | $0.68/lb |
| 2023-12 | $0.80/lb | $0.74/lb |
| 2024-01 | $0.80/lb | $0.77/lb |
| 2024-02 | $0.86/lb | $0.78/lb |
| 2024-05 | $0.85/lb | $0.85/lb |
| 2024-06 | $0.85/lb | $0.84/lb |
| 2024-07 | $0.87/lb | $0.87/lb |
| 2024-10 | $0.77/lb | $0.64/lb |
| 2024-11 | $0.74/lb | $0.66/lb |
| 2024-12 | $0.66/lb | $0.63/lb |
| 2025-01 | $0.64/lb | $0.62/lb |
| 2025-02 | $0.62/lb | $0.63/lb |
| 2025-03 | $0.65/lb | $0.62/lb |
| 2025-04 | $0.66/lb | $0.64/lb |
| 2025-05 | $0.66/lb | $0.64/lb |
| 2025-10 | $0.63/lb | $0.68/lb |
| 2025-11 | $0.61/lb | $0.60/lb |
| 2025-12 | $0.64/lb | $0.58/lb |
| 2026-01 | $0.65/lb | $0.61/lb |
| 2026-02 | $0.65/lb | $0.60/lb |
| 2026-03 | $0.66/lb | $0.62/lb |
| 2026-04 | $0.69/lb | $0.66/lb |
| 2026-05 | $0.69/lb | $0.71/lb |
How Georgia compares
Top Cotton-producing states, May 2026 price
| State | Price | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $0.772/lb | +8.3% |
| Georgia | $0.692/lb | -2.9% |
What this price means for Georgia Cotton farmers
Georgia cotton prices reached 0.848 dollars per pound in May 2026, sitting roughly 0.11 dollars above the national average of 0.74 dollars per pound for the same period. That premium reflects state-level basis factors — primarily transportation costs, gin proximity, and local elevator competition — rather than any inherent quality advantage in Georgia fiber. Compared to last year's finalized marketing-year-average of 0.662 dollars per pound, the current monthly print looks encouraging, though the current marketing year's preliminary MYA of 0.635 dollars per pound tells a more cautious story, running about 0.03 dollars below the prior year's settled figure.
Growers and agronomists should be careful not to mistake a strong single-month print for a durable price signal when making marketing decisions. Locking in a forward contract based on May's 0.848 dollars per pound reading could prove advantageous if prices retreat, but it also carries risk if the market continues climbing, so any contract decision should be weighed against your break-even cost of production rather than chased on momentum alone. For annual revenue planning and crop budgeting, the marketing-year-average is the appropriate benchmark, since it smooths out the month-to-month volatility visible in the range from 0.635 dollars in January to 0.848 dollars in May. Using the preliminary MYA of 0.635 dollars per pound as your planning floor — rather than any peak monthly price — gives your operation a more defensible financial foundation heading into the next season.
Revenue calculator
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Frequently asked questions — Georgia Cotton price
Why is Georgia's cotton price of $0.848/lb higher than the US average of $0.74/lb in May 2026?
Georgia's cotton price carries a positive basis of $0.11/lb above the US average, reflecting regional factors such as proximity to Southeast textile mills, local gin capacity, fiber quality premiums, and strong regional demand relative to supply. Basis can shift throughout the season, so Georgia growers should monitor this spread when comparing forward contract offers to national benchmark prices.
What is the difference between Georgia's May 2026 cotton price of $0.848/lb and the marketing-year-average price of $0.635/lb?
The May 2026 monthly price of $0.848/lb represents what Georgia producers received during that specific month, while the marketing-year-average (MYA) price of $0.635/lb is a weighted average across all months of the full marketing year based on the volume sold each month. The MYA is the figure used by USDA to calculate ARC and PLC farm program payments, so growers relying on price-based safety nets should plan around the MYA rather than any single month's price.
How frequently does USDA update Georgia cotton price data, and how current is the figure I'm seeing?
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) publishes state-level crop prices monthly, typically releasing updated figures in the Agricultural Prices report around the last business day of the following month. This means the May 2026 Georgia cotton price of $0.848/lb would have been finalized and published in late June 2026, so growers should verify they are referencing the most recently released report before making marketing decisions.
How can I use Georgia's cotton price data alongside yield estimates to project farm revenue per acre?
To estimate gross revenue, multiply your expected or realized yield in pounds per acre by the relevant price — for example, a yield of 900 lbs/acre at the May 2026 Georgia price of $0.848/lb projects to approximately $763/acre, while using the marketing-year-average of $0.635/lb produces a more conservative estimate of $572/acre. Using the MYA price for revenue projections tied to program payments and the monthly price for near-term cash flow planning gives growers a more complete picture when evaluating input costs, loan repayment, and forward contracting opportunities.