Cotton Production Down In Mobile County

It's quiet on the Robert's farm. Fields rest in time for planting season, but this year they're planting less cotton.

“The profit margin is just barely existent,” says fifth generation farmer Brian Roberts. He says he's planting about a third less. Peanuts are going in the ground instead. Roberts says they're easier to grow, cheaper and storm resistant.

“You don't have to worry about going out the morning after a storm and you're peanuts have blown out of the bowl,” says Roberts. He says the cost of raising cotton has exploded. This special fertilizer has doubled in price since 2005.

“The fertilizer cost went from about 40 dollars an acre to 65 to 80 dollars an acre and cotton prices on the market have not risen to meet it,” says Roberts. At the Producer's Gin Company they're expecting about 20% less cotton this season. That means stuff you buy made of cotton could soon cost more.

“Your jeans and underwear are going to cost more, all of your textiles that are that are made with cotton will probably increase,” says office manager Georgie Starr.