The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its January crop reports today, and Chris Singh with NASS in Washington, D.C., says the U.S. cotton production estimate is down 1 percent from the previous forecast.
All cotton production is forecast at 20.1 million 480-pound bales, down 1 percent from the previous forecast but up 9 percent from 2018. Yields are expected to average 817 pounds per harvested acre, up 42 pounds from the previous forecast but down 47 pounds from 2018. Upland cotton production is forecast at 19.4 million 480-pound bales, down 1 percent from the previous forecast but up 10 percent from 2018.
Cotton production in Georgia is forecast at 2.65 million bales, up 36 percent from last year. In Alabama, production is forecast at 1.08 million bales, up 22 percent from 2018. Florida production is expected to total 190,000 bales, up 84 percent from last year.
In summary, all cotton production is forecast at 20.1 million 480-pound bales, up 9 percent from 2018.