USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its January crop reports today, updating numbers from last year’s crop. Becky Sommer with NASS in Washington D.C. says the 2020 U.S. cotton production forecast is down 25% from 2019’s crop.
All cotton production is forecast at 15.0 million 480-pound bales, down 6% from the previous forecast, and down 25% from 2019. All cotton planted totaled 12.1 million acres, down slightly from the previous estimate and down 12% from the previous year. All cotton harvested is forecast at 8.70 million acres, down 3% from the previous estimate and down 25% from 2019.
Cotton production in Georgia is forecast at 2.18 million bales, down 20% from last year. In Alabama, production is forecast at 735,000 bales, down 29% from 2019. Florida production is expected to total 125,000 bales, 39% below last year.
In summary, all cotton production is forecast at 15.0 million 480-pound bales, down 25% from 2019. This is Becky Sommer with the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
For a direct link to see more numbers from this month’s crop reports, click here.