USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its September crop reports today, and Becky Sommer with NASS in Washington D.C. says the U.S. cotton production estimate is down 14% from last year’s crop.
All cotton production is forecast at 17.1 million 480-pound bales, down 14% from 2019. All cotton planted area totaled 12.1 million acres, down 1% from the previous estimate and down 12% from last year. All cotton area harvested is forecast at 9.01 million acres, down 22% from 2019.
As of Aug. 30, 44% of the cotton acreage was rated in good to excellent condition compared with 48% at the same time last year. Ninety-three percent of the acreage had set bolls by August 30, two percentage points behind both last year and the five?year average.
Cotton production in Georgia is forecast at 2.31 million bales, down 16% from last year. In Alabama, production is forecast at 905,000 bales, down 12% from 2019. Florida production is expected to total 180,000 bales, 12% below last year.
In summary, all cotton production is forecast at 17.1 million 480-pound bales, down 14% from 2019.