Leadership Photos of NCC advisors, officers and directors
Member Benefits Strong industry member participation helps the National Cotton Council represent U.S. cotton on numerous issues and keep it competitive
Member Web Sites Connect with the cotton community via websites of multiple NCC member firms
Related Organizations Descriptions of and links to various organizations that serve the U.S. cotton industry
Report to Members National Cotton Council action on behalf of the U.S. cotton industry is described in annual reports
Structure The National Cotton Council is a federation that works out common problems and develops programs of mutual benefit for its members.
Economics
Crop Info An abundance of information such as a profile of U.S. cotton’s economic contributions and updated U.S. cotton acreage, production and export numbers
Government Programs Facts on the federal farm law including details on crop insurance and conservation programs
Prices Key price data and marketing loan program values.
Reports & Publications The National Cotton Council’s Weekly Cotton Market Report, its annual Economic Outlook and more
Textiles Statistics on U.S. cotton textile imports and exports data and a textile trade policy summary
Weather & Exchanges Links to weather websites and to exchange/market websites
Education
Available Educational Resources National Cotton Council educational materials available for download offer useful teaching aids/guides to help students learn more about one of the world's major agricultural commodities
Cotton: From Field to Fabric Describes the major steps involved in producing and processing cotton
The Story of Cotton Tells the story of cotton -- where and how it's grown, processed and woven into cloth -- in simple terms
U.S. Production Map This map shows the most recent U.S. cotton production by county
Frequently Asked Questions Answers about the U.S. cotton industry and the National Cotton Council
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Find Your Congressional Contacts Contact information, including a list of staffers, of House and Senate Members in Cotton Belt states
Government Web Sites Links to key USDA agencies and services and to other government websites
Agri-Business Database of agribusiness firms who have a stake in a healthy U.S. cotton industry
CAC Committee for the Advancement of Cotton
NCC Membership Benefits by State State-by-state benefits for NCC Members
Beltwide Cotton Conferences January 7-9, 2026 San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, San Antonio, Texas
News & Events
Audio & Video Broadcasters can download interviews with National Cotton Council leaders/staff, Congressional Members and government officials.
Cotton's Calendar Dates and places of key meetings of the National Cotton Council, various NCC member firms and cotton interest organizations
Cotton's Week Archives of the National Cotton Council's premier member newsletter
Meetings Links to information from National Cotton Council annual meetings and other key NCC forums
News Releases Current and archived National Cotton Council news releases
Beltwide Cotton Conferences January 7-9, 2026 San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, San Antonio, Texas
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Cotton: From Field to Fabric
Cotton's Major Uses
U.S. textile mills presently consume approximately 7.6 million bales of cotton a year. Eventually, about 57% of it is converted into apparel, more than a third into home furnishings and the remainder into industrial products. Cotton’s competitive share of U.S. produced textile end-uses shows a steady increase, presently standing at approximately 34%. Cotton’s share of the retail apparel and home furnishings market has grown from a historic low of 34% in the early 1970s to more than 60% today.
Cotton is used for virtually every type of clothing, from coats and jackets to foundation garments. Most of its apparel usage, however, is for men and boys’ clothing. Cotton supplies over 70% of this market, with jeans, shirts and underwear being major items. In home furnishings, cotton’s uses range from bedspreads to window shades. It is by far the dominant fiber in towels and washcloths, supplying almost 100% of
that market. Cotton is popular in sheets and pillowcases, where it holds over 60% of the market. Industrial products containing cotton are as diverse as wall coverings, bookbindings and zipper tapes. The biggest cotton users in this category, however, are medical supplies, industrial thread and tarpaulins.
From Field To Fabric
Introduction
Economics of Cotton
Crop Production & Planting
Weed Control & Insect Management
Plant Diseases, Soil Conservation & Irrigation
Harvesting & Seed Cotton Storage
Ginning
Classing & Marketing
Cottonseed
Yarn Production
Fabric Manufacturing & Processing
Cotton Fabrics
Dyeing, Printing & Finishing
Cotton's Major Uses
Download a PDF version of Cotton: From Field to Fabric (129k)
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U.S. textile mills presently consume approximately 7.6 million bales of cotton a year. Eventually, about 57% of it is converted into apparel, more than a third into home furnishings and the remainder into industrial products. Cotton’s competitive share of U.S. produced textile end-uses shows a steady increase, presently standing at approximately 34%. Cotton’s share of the retail apparel and home furnishings market has grown from a historic low of 34% in the early 1970s to more than 60% today. 
Cotton is used for virtually every type of clothing, from coats and jackets to foundation garments. Most of its apparel usage, however, is for men and boys’ clothing. Cotton supplies over 70% of this market, with jeans, shirts and underwear being major items. In home furnishings, cotton’s uses range from bedspreads to window shades. It is by far the dominant fiber in towels and washcloths, supplying almost 100% of 
that market. Cotton is popular in sheets and pillowcases, where it holds over 60% of the market. Industrial products containing cotton are as diverse as wall coverings, bookbindings and zipper tapes. The biggest cotton users in this category, however, are medical supplies, industrial thread and tarpaulins.