Cotton or Corn…will there be a US cotton shortage?
MarketWatch, an online DowJones site, has an commentary by Kevin Kerr, Cotton ready to run higher. Commentary: As farmers opt for corn, cotton will climb
The general consensus is that many farmers are switching out of less profitable crops like cotton and rice and moving into the lucrative corn market, which has benefited from the ethanol boom.
So, the cotton we crave just might be outplaced by the green clean air we require, if the ethanol business is going to grow on corn rather than a cellouic based ethanol like that derived from hemp.
A dear friend many of us sewing bloggers know wrote that her father, living in farm country, predicted last Spring that there wouldn’t be any cotton planted if the ethanol of choice was going to be based on corn.
Looks like he sure might know a thing or two. (A tip of the hat to he who pays attention!)
And still the US awaits the answer to the question: when will China want the hundreds of thousands of cotton bales we are holding for them???
And who can really understand all these world-wide shenanigans? Not I! Although I do try. Really. 
This work is licensed under a 
Mary, you’re sweet!
Lisa Laree
March 28, 2007
Guess I’d better fix the spelling of “cellulosic”, not “cellouic” but I don’t want to “edit” and bump this post back up on the RSS feeds…hmmmm, what’s a writer to do?
Mary Beth
March 28, 2007
Although I would hardly call corn a lucrative cropping option! The price may be pretty good now, but when everyone decides that ethanol is not a viable solution, there will be a glut once again. Just my primary producer antenna rearing up!
ConnieB
March 28, 2007
Just edit & never mind the bumping up! (I have to admit I constantly go back and edit my posts, but editing’s my trade, so I would.
)As for understanding world shenanigans, all I know is that, if nothing else, it’s important to keep trying.
LMH
March 28, 2007