Cotton Farming Like a Pro in Farming Simulator 25

If you’re looking to add cotton to your farm in Farming Simulator 25, you’ve come to the right place.

This guide will walk you through the entire process of growing, harvesting, and selling cotton, assuming you already know the basics of operating farm equipment.

Preparing the Soil

Just like with other crops, you’ll need to prepare your field before planting cotton. This involves:

1. Plowing the soil
2. Adding lime to the soil
3. Fertilizing the field

Planting Cotton

To plant cotton, you’ll need a special machine called a planter. Here’s what to do:

1. Go to the “Planters” section in the shop
2. Look for planters with the cotton icon
3. Choose a planter that can also fertilize (look for the solid fertilizer icon)
4. Load your planter with cotton seeds
5. Plant your cotton in the prepared field

Remember, you can’t use regular seeders for cotton – it must be a planter.

Caring for Your Cotton

After planting, make sure to:

1. Add lime if needed
2. Fertilize again to reach 100% yield potential

Harvesting Cotton

Harvesting cotton requires special equipment:

1. You’ll need a cotton harvester (found in the “Special Crops” section)
2. Cotton harvesters are expensive (500,000 to 900,000), so they’re not for beginners
3. The harvester will automatically create cotton bales in the field

Transporting Cotton

After harvesting:

1. Use a cotton transporter (also in the “Special Crops” section)
2. A bale loader is recommended for easy collection
3. This machine loads cotton bales onto a trailer for transport

Selling Your Cotton

Cotton can be quite profitable. Here’s what you need to know:

1. February is typically the best month to sell
2. Cotton can only be sold at the spinnery, rope maker, or farm market
3. A 2-hectare field should give you a full load of cotton

Cotton Farming Mistakes to Avoid in Farming Simulator 25:

1. Ignoring field preparation: Failing to properly prepare your field can result in lower yields. Make sure to plow, cultivate, or use a direct drill seeder as needed.
2. Neglecting the plowing state: If periodic plowing is turned on in settings, not addressing the plowing state with a plow, subsoiler, or spader can lead to yield deficits.
3. Overlooking lime requirements: If lime is required for your field and you don’t apply it, your yield will suffer.
4. Using the wrong planter: Ensure your chosen planter is capable of planting cotton. Not all planters in the game can handle cotton seeds.
5. Planting out of season: If playing with seasonal growth, planting cotton outside of February and March will not be possible.
6. Insufficient fertilization: Cotton requires two states of fertilizer for maximum yield. Failing to apply both stages will reduce your harvest.
7. Ignoring weeds: If weed growth is enabled, not addressing weed issues can harm your crop. Use herbicide sprayers or weeders to manage weeds.
8. Harvesting at the wrong time: With seasonal growth on, harvesting outside of October and November will result in withered crops.
9. Choosing the wrong harvester: Consider the differences between the Case IH and John Deere harvesters. The Case IH is cheaper and produces larger bales, which might be more efficient for some operations.
10. Inefficient bale transport: Using single-bale transporters instead of multi-bale options can slow down your post-harvest operations.
11. Selling at low prices: Not paying attention to market prices when selling your cotton can result in lower profits. Try to sell when prices are high.
12. Overlooking production chains: Failing to consider using cotton in production chains (like making fabric or ropes) might mean missing out on potential added value.

Tips for Success:

• Cotton is an expensive crop but can be very profitable
• Make sure you have the right equipment before starting
• Plan your field size based on your equipment and storage capacity

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful cotton farmer in Farming Simulator 25.

Happy farming!