Though the longest government in U.S. history has come to an end, the cotton producers and markets are making efforts to stabilize.
As the shutdown ended, lawmakers passed a mini-buss package that included funded the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the full fiscal year, ensuring the CCC loan should remain operational should another shutdown occur in 2026.
The economic hit came with delayed aid, lost revenue, and slower growth, but things should steady more as workers get paid and federal services start moving again.
Markets will also get much-needed clarity now that key reports can roll out on schedule, though no official schedule has been released and while the September jobs and inflation data should be forthcoming, it is unlikely there will be one for October.
The delayed Export Sales Report ending Sept. 25 was the first released since the shutdown.
The WASDE report showed U.S cotton production was up by nearly 900,000 bales to 14.12 billion, with the Southwest projected at 5.95 million bales, with Texas as 5.3 million, Oklahoma at 470,000 bales and Kansas at 150,000 bales signaling soft demand relative to increases in production.