Cotton is the single most important textile fiber in the world, accounting for about 35 percent of all fibers produced. The united states remains a major producer of cotton for the international market, ranking third behind china and india. The united states also remains the leading cotton exporter in the world. Six countries--brazil, china, india, pakistan, turkey and the united states--are the top consumers of the world’s cotton. Cotton is produced in 17 states from virginia to california. Texas consistently produces the most cotton, followed by georgia and arkansas. Two types of cotton are grown in the united states: american upland (gossypium hirsutum) and american pima (gossypium barbadense), or extra-long staple (els) cotton. The predominant type of cotton grown is upland, which accounts for about 97 percent of u.s. Production. The top producers of upland cotton in 2010 were (in order by volume): texas, georgia, arkansas, north carolina and mississippi (nass 2011). The balance of the u.s. Crop is els or pima cotton, which is mainly produced in california. As production became increasingly concentrated, the usda grouped cotton-producing states into four regions. The southwest region (kansas, oklahoma and texas) typically produces the most upland cotton. The delta region (arkansas, louisiana, mississippi, missouri and tennessee) generally ranks as the number two producer of u.s. Upland cotton, followed by the southeast region (alabama, florida, georgia, north and south carolina, and virginia). The west (arizona, california and new mexico) usually produces the least amount of upland cotton. U.s. Cotton production in 2011 was 15.7 million bales (1 bale = 480 pounds). Upland cotton production was 14.8 million bales, and els/pima production was 845,700 bales.

Cotton is the single most important textile fiber in the world, accounting for about 35 percent of all fibers produced. The united states remains a major producer of cotton for the international market, ranking third behind china and india. The united states also remains the leading cotton exporter in the world. Six countries--brazil, china, india, pakistan, turkey and the united states--are the top consumers of the world’s cotton. Cotton is produced in 17 states from virginia to california. Texas consistently produces the most cotton, followed by georgia and arkansas. Two types of cotton are grown in the united states: american upland (gossypium hirsutum) and american pima (gossypium barbadense), or extra-long staple (els) cotton. The predominant type of cotton grown is upland, which accounts for about 97 percent of u.s. Production. The top producers of upland cotton in 2010 were (in order by volume): texas, georgia, arkansas, north carolina and mississippi (nass 2011). The balance of the u.s. Crop is els or pima cotton, which is mainly produced in california. As production became increasingly concentrated, the usda grouped cotton-producing states into four regions. The southwest region (kansas, oklahoma and texas) typically produces the most upland cotton. The delta region (arkansas, louisiana, mississippi, missouri and tennessee) generally ranks as the number two producer of u.s. Upland cotton, followed by the southeast region (alabama, florida, georgia, north and south carolina, and virginia). The west (arizona, california and new mexico) usually produces the least amount of upland cotton. U.s. Cotton production in 2011 was 15.7 million bales (1 bale = 480 pounds). Upland cotton production was 14.8 million bales, and els/pima production was 845,700 bales.