Ready to dive into one of the most rewarding crops in Farming Simulator 25? Whether you’re an experienced player or just getting your hands dirty, my guide is packed with every tip and trick you need to go from field prep to fabric production. Trust me, cotton isn’t just another crop—it’s a journey from soil to sale!
Cotton Complete Guide
In Farming Simulator 25, cotton is a high-value cash crop that adds a unique layer of challenge and reward to your farming experience. Unlike grains or other standard crops, cotton requires specialized equipment and careful planning, but the payoff can be incredicly lucrative, especially if you process it into fabric or sell large bales directly!
Field Prep – The Groundwork for Growing Cotton
Alright, step one: Field Prep! Find your field—I’ll be using this small one here—and let’s make it cotton-ready. Now, if you’re not using a direct drill seeder, you’ll need to prepare the soil. You have options: plow, cultivator, disc harrow, power harrow, subsoiler, or spader. Not sure what’s what? I’ve got a handy Field Prep Guide that breaks it down.
Periodic Plowing & Stones
Check if Periodic Plowing is enabled in your settings. It’s on? Then grab a plow, subsoiler, or spader to avoid losing yield. No plowing needed? Great, let’s keep moving.
Next up, Field Stones. If they’re enabled, certain tools will unearth stones. You can either:
- Roll them back into the soil using a roller.
- Pick them up with a stone picker.
No worries about yield—stones only damage equipment, so manage them wisely!
Lime Time!
If your field has that cyan tint, it’s lime time. Spread lime across the field using the base game lime spreader (look for the lime icon). Grab lime from the store and spread it like fertilizer. Easy!
And that’s it for Field Prep! Let’s move on to planting.
Planting Cotton
First off, head over to the Planters section in the store. Now, don’t just grab the first shiny machine you see. Look for planters that explicitly list cotton in their planting options. Beware of that specialty planter—it skips cotton entirely.
Choosing Your Cotton Planter
Here’s a tip: two planters, the Mzuri PRO-TIL 4T Xzact and Kinze 4905 Blue Drive, come with direct seeding capability, meaning you can skip the plowing and cultivating stages. Think of them as the multitaskers of your farm!
If you’ve got periodic plowing and lime requirements enabled, you’ll still need to address those, even with a direct planter.
Consider Getting Planters with Fertilizer Support
Who doesn’t love a two-in-one? Some planters let you fertilize while planting, saving you precious time. Look for planters that support solid or liquid fertilizer—symbols will tell you what’s what.
- Solid Fertilizer: White granular icon.
- Liquid Fertilizer: Blue droplet icon.
Loading Up & Planting
Got your planter? Great! Load it up with seeds and fertilizer by backing up to your supplies and pressing R. Double-check the fertilizer type—no one wants a mix-up here. Once you’re all set, hop into the field, press Y to switch the seed type to cotton, lower your planter with V, and fire it up with B. Boom—you’re planting cotton!
Seasonal Considerations
If you’ve got seasonal growth enabled, timing is everything. Check your in-game calendar:
- Plant Cotton: February to March
- Harvest Cotton: October to November
Mess this up, and your cotton could wither. Not feeling the pressure of time? Turn seasonal growth off and plant anytime. Just remember, the game won’t let you plant out of season if seasonal growth is on—unless you like frustration, don’t forget to toggle it off in settings when experimenting.
Caring for Cotton: The Key to Maximum Yield
Once your cotton is planted, it’s time to focus on crop care to ensure a high yield. Let’s dive into what you need to do next!
Step 1: Fertilizer – Two Layers for Success
After planting, you’ll notice your field has one state of fertilizer—light blue on the soil composition map. To maximize yield, aim for two fertilizer states, represented by dark blue. You can’t apply both layers back-to-back, though. If your planter applied fertilizer during planting, you’ll need to wait a day before adding more.
Tip: If your planter didn’t apply fertilizer, feel free to apply the first layer right after planting. Waiting is only necessary when your planter handled that first layer.
Skip through the night, and voila, it’s a new day! Your cotton should be sprouting nicely. Now it’s time to apply the second layer of fertilizer. You’ve got plenty of options:
- Solid Fertilizer via a spreader
- Liquid Fertilizer with a sprayer
- Manure, Slurry, or Digestate if you’re going the eco-friendly route
Want more detailed guidance on maximizing your yield? I’ve got a dedicated guide on how to Maximize Yield in Farming Simulator 25 for you. It’ll help you double your crop output!
Step 2: Dealing with Weeds
Ah, the pesky weeds! If left unchecked, they can hinder your cotton’s growth. Here’s how to tackle them:
- Herbicide Sprayer: Quickly kills weeds in any growth stage.
- Weeder: Use early to pull small or medium weeds. Remember, different weeders target different sizes, so check the description before buying.
You’ll know the herbicide is working when the weeds turn brown and wilt. For weeding tools, a clean field means success—no weeds visible on the map. If you’re interested, I have a detailed guide that covers how to remove weeds in Farming Simulator 25.
Optional Tip: If dealing with weeds feels overwhelming at first, you can turn them off in the game settings. Once you’re comfortable, add the challenge back in for a more immersive farming experience.
Harvesting Cotton
Now, it’s time to get down to business—the harvest! If you’re playing with seasons enabled, make sure to harvest in October or November. If you miss that window, your precious cotton will wither, and no one wants that heartbreak. For those of us who prefer to keep things simple, disabling seasons allows harvesting anytime—just a friendly reminder that flexibility is an option!
You’ve got two cotton harvesters to choose from, each with its quirks:
1. Case IH Module Express 635
- Cost: $485,000
- Bale Type: Large square bales (20,000 liters)
- Pros: Affordable, fewer bales to transport, easy to unload partial bales
2. John Deere CP690
- Cost: $847,000
- Bale Type: Round bales (10,000 liters)
- Pros: Higher horsepower for challenging terrain, John Deere fans will appreciate the classic green look
If you’re just starting or looking for value, go with the Case IH. It’s budget-friendly and efficient, especially for larger fields. But if you’ve got hills to conquer or a love for John Deere, don’t hold back!
Getting to Work: How to Harvest
- Unfold Your Harvester:
- Hit X to unfold either harvester. (Don’t you love that transforming moment?)
- Lower & Start the Harvester:
- Hit V to lower, and B to turn it on.
- Harvest Away:
- Drive over your cotton field, and watch those chambers fill up with cotton goodness.
Important: Cotton does not regrow. Once harvested, it’s back to the plowing and planting grind for your next yield.
Bale Sizes & Early Unloading
- Square Bales (Case IH) can be unloaded once they hit 2,500 liters.
- Round Bales (John Deere) max out at 10,000 liters but may not allow early unloading.
Why Bale Size Matters: Larger bales = fewer trips and less time spent on logistics. For those of us who’d rather be driving tractors than trucks, it’s a lifesaver.
Transporting & Collecting Cotton Bales: The Smooth Operator Way
Alright, farmers! You’ve harvested your cotton, and now it’s time to transport those bales. Let’s make this process as smooth and efficient as possible with a few tips and tricks.
Choosing Your Bale Transport: Round vs. Square: When it comes to cotton bales, the key thing is understanding whether you’re dealing with round or square bales because the equipment differs. Here’s the breakdown:
For Round Bales
- Single Bale Mover (3-Point Hitch Attachment)
- Pros: Cheap and easy to attach to a tractor.
- Cons: Moves only one bale at a time—slow and tedious for larger fields.
- Personal Take: It’s like using chopsticks when you really need a forklift. Sure, it works, but there’s a better way!
- Round Bale Trailer (Holds 3 Bales)
- Pros: Holds up to 3 bales, making it much faster for transport.
- Cons: Slightly pricier but worth every penny.
- Pro Tip: Hit B to set it in operating position. It lowers the trailer, making bale collection easier. No straps needed—these bales are locked in tighter than a jar of pickles.
- Personal Take: This is the MVP of round bale handling—fast, efficient, and no fuss.
For Square Bales
- Square Bale Trailer (Auto-Loading for 2 Bales)
- Pros: Surprisingly, this one can grab two bales despite what the manual says!
- Pro Tip: Hit B to lower it into operating position, back up to the bales, and watch the magic happen.
- Personal Take: Bigger bales mean fewer trips. This one’s a no-brainer for square bale fans.
- Dual-Purpose Trailers (Round & Square)
- Pros: Flexibility for both bale types.
- Cons: Might require some practice to get the hang of it.
- Personal Take: Perfect if you’re juggling both types of bales on your farm. One tool, two solutions—efficiency at its finest!
Loading & Unloading: Easy Peasy
- Loading: Once your trailer’s in operating position, drive close to the bales. They’ll auto-load without you breaking a sweat.
- Unloading: Back up to your drop-off point, hit Y, and watch as your bales gracefully slide off and become part of the world again.
No straps? No problem! The auto-lock system keeps your bales secure during transport.
Why Round Bale Auto-Loading is a Lifesaver: If you’re handling round bales long-term, the side-arm loader trailer is your best friend. It lets you drive up and grab bales without all the back-and-forth. You’ll be in and out of the field in no time.
- Bonus: Workers can harvest and drop bales for you. Just swing by, scoop them up, and you’re good to go. Efficiency, baby!
What to Do with Cotton: Turning Your Harvest into Gold
After all that hard work harvesting, it’s time to decide what to do with your cotton bales. Whether you’re looking to make a quick buck or dive into production, here’s everything you need to know.
Storing Cotton: No Silos, No Problem
Unlike grains, cotton doesn’t get the VIP silo treatment. Instead, you’ll need to stack your bales somewhere secure—think of it as creating your own cotton fortress. If you’re moving bales between trailers, it’s as easy as hitting “Y” to unload. Hit “Y” again, select “Unload Bales Here,” and voila—your bales roll off the back like magic. Simple, right?
Selling Cotton: Cash In on Those Fluffy Bundles
If you’re all about the fast cash, selling your cotton is a great option. Cotton bales might not be the hay, straw, or silage you’re used to, but they sell just like regular bales. To check current prices, open your Sell Menu and find the best offer.
Cotton usually fetches a pretty good price, and even if it’s not at its peak, it’s often still worth selling. So, load up, head to a sell point, and watch your bank account grow!
Production Potential: From Field to Fabric
Feeling crafty? Cotton is a gateway to more lucrative ventures:
- Spin It at the Spinnery to produce fabric, which can then be sold or used for…
- Tailoring: Turn that fabric into clothing for even higher profits.
- Rope Factory: Cotton isn’t just for fashion—it’s also used to create ropes, which might come in handy for other industries. If you’re interested, make sure to check out my detailed guide on the Rope Factory in Farming Simulator 25!
Wrapping Up (Your Cottons)
And there you have it, folks—your ultimate guide to cotton farming in Farming Simulator 25! From prepping your fields to baling and selling those fluffy bundles, you’re now equipped to maximize your yields and profits.
Is cotton worth it? Absolutely, if you’re ready for the challenge and want to make those profits roll in! With a bit of patience and planning, you can turn your cotton fields into a major source of income. But if you’re after fast returns, maybe try a quicker crop first. Either way, cotton brings a rewarding experience to the game!
