USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its November crop reports today. Becky Sommer with NASS in Washington D.C. says the U.S. cotton production estimate is still down 14% from last year’s crop.
All cotton production is forecast at 17.1 million 480-pound bales, up less than 1% from the previous forecast and down 14% from 2019. All cotton planted totaled 12.1 million acres, unchanged from the previous estimate but down 12% from the previous year. All cotton harvested is forecast at 9.01 million acres, down 22% from 2019.
As of Nov. 1, 37% of the U.S. cotton acreage was rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 40% at the same time last year. Fifty-two percent of the cotton acreage had been harvested, 1% ahead of last year and 3% behind the 5-year average.
Cotton production in Georgia is forecast at 2.4 million bales, down 12% from last year. In Alabama, production is forecast at 825,000 bales, down 20% from 2019. Florida production is expected to total 155,000 bales, 24% below last year.
In summary, all cotton production is forecast at 17.1 million 480-pound bales, down 14% from 2019. This is Becky Sommer with the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.