Cotton Board Approves Cotton Incorporated 2026 Budget; Elects New Officers
August 14, 2025 The Cotton Board voted to recommend Cotton Incorporated’s 2026 budget of $85.1 million to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture during the organization’s 2025 Annual Meeting in conjunction with Cotton Incorporated’s Board of Directors.
The recommended 2026 budget reflects a 4% decrease from 2025. Even with reduced funding, Cotton Incorporated unveiled a new strategy designed to grow global cotton demand, strengthen market share, and enhance grower profitability.
Addressing both Boards in the General Session, Cotton Incorporated President & CEO William Kimbrell says the 2026 plan and budget includes initiatives that reflect a major strategic shift for the Cotton Research and Promotion Program, including the merger of Cotton Incorporated’s Consumer Marketing and Global Supply Chain Marketing divisions into a single Marketing Division.
“Streamlining these divisions into a single Marketing division puts the cotton brand first and allows us to focus our marketing efforts on the brands, retailers, and manufacturers most influential in cotton purchasing decisions,” says Kimbrell.
The plan also includes continued commitment to innovation through Agricultural Research and Research & Development to accelerate opportunities for cotton in the market across the value chain.
Kimbrell will appear on The Cotton Board’s August 19 episode of Cotton & Coffee to give a detailed overview of the 2026 plan and budget. Register online to join the Zoom session live or view the session later on The Cotton Board YouTube channel.
Matt Farmer Leads New Officer Slate
The Cotton Board also elected a new slate of officers to serve one-year terms.
Matt Farmer (Photo: Cotton Board)
Matt Farmer, a cotton producer from Lamesa, TX, was elected to serve as Chairman of the Board. He has been farming for more than 30 years, and his operation consists of roughly 8,000 acres spread across three Texas counties.
“With a unified strategy, bold investment, and committed leadership, The Cotton Board and Cotton Incorporated are not simply responding to market challenges — they are shaping the future of cotton,” says Farmer. “We have the focus, the resources, and the resolve to ensure cotton remains the fiber of choice for generations to come.”
Also elected as Cotton Board officers were:
Vice Chairman – Rusty Darby, Producer from Chester, SC
Secretary – Laurie Rando, Importer from Scotch Plains, NJ
Treasurer – Adam Hatley, Producer from Mesa, AZ
Immediate Past Chair – Akiko Inui, Importer from New York City, NY
Information from The Cotton Board
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