USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its December crop reports today. Becky Sommer with NASS in Washington D.C. says the U.S. cotton production estimate is still down 20% from last year’s crop.
All cotton production is forecast at 15.9 million 480-pound bales, down 7% from the previous forecast, and down 20% 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 November 29, 84% of the cotton acreage had been harvested, two percentage points ahead of last year and 5 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average.
Cotton production in Georgia is forecast at 2.3 million bales, down 16% from last year. In Alabama, production is forecast at 790,000 bales, down 23% from 2019. Florida production is expected to total 140,000 bales, 32% below last year.
In summary, all cotton production is forecast at 15.9 million 480-pound bales, down 20% from 2019.
This is Becky Sommer with the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.