Times are tough for farmers in the US cotton belt who are caught in the middle of a storm of changing global demand. Cotton acreage in the US has been declining for years, with 2015 hitting the lowest mark in decades. It has dropped from nearly 15 million acres to less than 9 million acres in just the past five years.

According to Jody Campiche, VP of economics and policy analysis at the National Cotton Council, one of the main issues facing the world cotton market is just a sluggish demand. It boils down to one thing, Campiche said - China. It used to be the largest export market for American cotton. A few years ago, more than 40 per cent of US cotton exports ended there. Last year, it was down to 6 per cent.

A lot of American clothes are made in China, but clothing companies there are relying more and more on cheaper man-made fibers, like polyester. According to the US Department of Agriculture, a big reason man-made fibers are on the rise is growing consumer demand for athletic wear, such as Lululemon and Under Armor fitness apparel. U.S. producers are also facing growing competition from countries, like India and Pakistan.