U.S. cotton producers have frequently experienced excess production capacity, high stocks, and low product prices. These problems continue into the 1980's. Government programs since the 1930's have supported prices and attempted to adjust acreage and production to meet market needs, with varying degrees of success. Issues for 1985 farm legislation include the appropriate kinds and levels of price and income supports and effective ways to manage production over the long run with improvement of production efficiency. At the same time, the interrelationships between the cotton industry and other sectors of the U.S. economy and the need to compete in world markets are important considerations.