Last year’s dry weather greatly reduced the U.S. cotton crop. While growers may have had protection against the loss through crop insurance, cotton infrastructure businesses like gins do not have the same safety net. Lower yields led to less work for these businesses, with many saying the impact was worse than any other year in recent memory. Many couldn’t even break even. As a result, commodity organizations are pushing state legislators to pass emergency bills to offer some relief.

With more moisture in the forecast for the 2023 cotton season, gins and merchandisers are hoping tough conditions won’t repeat themselves.

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