Cotton grows in Florida, although its role in the state’s agriculture has changed significantly over time. The warm, subtropical environment provides the long, frost-free growing season necessary for the plant to mature and produce bolls. While Florida is not a leading national cotton producer today, the crop maintains a presence in specific regions.
Historical Significance and Decline
Cotton was once a major cash crop in Florida, particularly in the northern regions, throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Starting in the 1820s, American settlers expanded cultivation into the state, establishing it as an important part of the Southern agricultural economy. Cotton fields spread across the Panhandle and North Florida, creating economic dependence on the crop.
The dominance of cotton was ultimately broken by the arrival of the Boll Weevil (Anthonomus grandis), which entered the United States from Mexico in the late 1800s. This tiny beetle feeds on the cotton plant’s buds and young bolls, spreading across the entire cotton belt by the 1920s. The insect’s presence was devastating to Florida growers, dramatically reducing yields and making the crop unprofitable.
Farmers were forced to apply insecticides up to 15 times per season to manage the pest, which severely increased production costs. The decline in profitability caused many Florida farmers to switch to alternative crops, such as peanuts, corn, and tobacco. Cotton acreage in the state dropped to only a few thousand acres at its lowest point.
Current Commercial Production Status
Today, commercial cotton production in Florida is concentrated in the Panhandle, primarily in northwest counties like Jackson, Santa Rosa, and Escambia. Although the state is a minor player nationally, typically ranking around 15th among cotton-producing states, it is an important row crop locally. Cotton often represents the largest acreage crop grown in Northwest Florida.
The modern resurgence of cotton farming is largely due to the successful Boll Weevil Eradication Program in the Southeast, completed in the 1990s. This program, combined with the adoption of modern transgenic cotton varieties, has drastically reduced the need for chemical pesticides. Most cotton planted is genetically modified to be tolerant of glyphosate and to express a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which controls caterpillar pests.
Florida farmers utilize high-tech methods, including GPS-guided tractors and precision agriculture, to optimize planting and manage resources like water and fertilizer. Despite these advancements, the scale of production remains small compared to national leaders like Texas and Georgia, which produce millions of bales annually. Florida’s total production is typically around 100,000 bales annually, valued in the tens of millions of dollars.
Climatic and Soil Requirements
Cotton requires a long, warm, and frost-free period, typically spanning 150 to 200 days, which Florida’s subtropical climate provides. For successful seed germination, the soil temperature must be at least 65°F at a depth of four inches. The ideal air temperature range for active growth and flowering is between 70°F and 100°F.
The crop grows best in well-drained, deep, sandy loam soils, which are common in North Florida. Cotton is highly susceptible to waterlogging; standing water for even a single day can cause root rot and stunt growth. Many Florida soils have a natural compaction layer 6 to 14 inches deep, which requires subsoiling to allow the cotton roots to penetrate effectively.
Florida’s high humidity and heavy rainfall also present challenges. High humidity increases the risk of fungal diseases and boll rot, a condition known as “hardlock” that can severely reduce the yield. Farmers must manage this risk, sometimes with the application of fungicides, to ensure the cotton bolls fully open for mechanical harvesting.