The trendiness of synthetic fiber yoga pants is hurting American cotton farmers. But deep in the heart of North Carolina, cotton researchers are designing new fabrics to stay competitive.
The aid, which dates from the Great Depression, could end when Congress acts on the next farm bill. The World Trade Organization has ruled it's an illegal subsidy, and legislators are looking for budget items to slash.
According to the Wall Street Journal, cotton has become part of the fabric of life in China — the country has bought over a million tons of the fluffy white stuff in the last seven months.
