USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released their December crop reports today. Becky Sommer with NASS in Washington D.C. says the U.S. cotton production estimate is still up 25 percent from last year’s crop.
All cotton production is forecast at 18.3 million 480?pound bales, up less than 1 percent from the previous forecast, and up 25 percent from 2020.
Based on conditions as of December 1, yields are expected to average 885 pounds per harvested acre, up 5 pounds from the previous forecast and up 38 pounds from 2020. All cotton area harvested is forecast at 9.92 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast, but up 20 percent from 2020.
As of November 29, eighty-five percent of the cotton acreage was harvested, 2 percent ahead of last year and 6 percent ahead of the 5-year average.
Cotton production in Georgia is forecast at 2.3 million bales, up 6 percent from last year. In Alabama, production is forecast at 755,000 bales, up 3 percent from 2020. Florida production is expected to total 130,000 bales, 26 percent above last year.
In summary, all cotton production is forecast at 18.3 million 480-pound bales, up 25 percent from 2020.
This is Becky Sommer with the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service