1. Cotton An Overview of the Cotton Industry in Georgia
Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
Dr. Frank Flanders and Catrina Kennedy
April 2006

2. Objectives Students will be able to:
Explain the importance of the Cotton industry in Georgia.
Name 4 Cotton products.
State key facts.
Name the top three Cotton producing counties.
Rank the Cotton Industry compared to other Georgia agricultural commodities.
Rank Georgia with other states in Cotton production.

3. Why is the Cotton industry important?
Cotton makes up 35% of Georgia’s crop income and grows in more than 100 counties.
More than 2,000 cotton-related businesses provide 33,000 jobs in Georgia, adding more than $3 billion to the state's economy.
Cotton was an ingredient in the first light bulb, the telegraph, the Wright brothers' plane and the first automobile tires.

4. Cotton Products Many things are made with Cottons including: Clothing
Gloves
Blankets
Feed
Bathroom Products

5. Georgia’s Commodity Value
Item
Rank by
sale
Sales ($1000)
Percent of total
sales
Poultry and eggs 1
2,780,214
56.6
Vegetables, melons, and potatoes 2
383,556
7.8
Cotton and cotton seed 3
318,013
6.5
Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture 4
315,324
6.4
Other crops and hay 5
246,936
Cattle and calves 6
240,070
4.9
Milk and other dairy products from
cows 7
212,720
4.3
Fruits, tree nuts and berries 8
122,151
2.5
Grains, oilseeds, dry beans, and dry
peas 9
102,464
2.1
Tobacco 10
89,058
1.8

6. US Cotton Production Top Cotton production states Texas Arkansas
Mississippi
Georgia
North Carolina

7. Top producing Counties in Georgia
Top Counties:
Dooley County
Colquitt County
Mitchell County
Worth County
Seminole County

8. One bale of cotton can make:
215 Pairs of Jeans 249 Bed Sheets
690 Terry Bath Towels 765 Men's Dress Shirts
1,217 Men's T-Shirt 1,256 Pillowcases
2,104 Boxer Shorts 4,321 Mid-Calf Socks
313,600 $100 Bills*

9. Assessment 1. Name 4 Cotton products.
2. What are the top 5 production states in the U.S.?
3. Name one of the top production counties in Georgia?
4. What is an interesting fact about Cotton?
5. Where does cotton rank among other Georgia Commodities?

10. Quiz Key 1. Answers will Vary
2. Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina
3. Dooley, Colquitt, Mitchell, Worth, Seminole
4. Answers will vary
5. 3

11. References