U.S. cotton farmers are suffering from two years of depressed prices — China, weather and yoga...

As a family member of a family that grew cotton this isn't new news. The problem with cotton farming is that demand is certainly a problem but also the regulations that come with farming. Seed is expensive because of the "engineering fees" etc., chemicals for weed control are growing exponentially, Boll weevil eradication fees, crop scout fees, and then the companies that buy the cotton grade it when it is picked. If it isn't exactly perfect they are subjectively grading it and that is how you get paid per bale. Now let's throw government regulations in through a farm bill and the EPA which all drive costs up as well. Farm bills are getting cut and the government is telling farmers what they can and can't do with their own land with respect to what they can and can't plant or grow. The amount of farmers in the US is dwindling because the sons and daughters of farmers aren't taking over the farms. They are moving on to other professions because it isn't worth the risk. Also, people don't back farmers because they don't understand the life. I actually read a real article last year about a lady who was talking to her son when he asked about farmers..she told him that they didn't exist anymore and that isn't where his food came from...it came from the grocery store. Most farmers are very educated personnel that have college degrees etc. Farmers are the most God fearing people in the world because they plant a seed int eh ground and have the faith that it will grow and provide. I hope some things change for the farmers because if it doesn't we will see a major shift in the nations backbone.

Great article on cotton farming.

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel thanks for the share/read.