Economists with the National Cotton Council (NCC) released their outlook for the 2023 cotton industry ahead of planting season.
The Georgia Cotton Commission’s producers are expected to plant 1.27 million acres this season, 1.1% less acreage than last year’s 1.29 million acres.
Georgia would still be second in the U.S. in production behind Texas, which is projected to plant 6.1 million acres, 21.2% less than last year’s 7.8 million acres.
The National Cotton Council’s data is derived from its annual early season survey and was released at this past weekend’s annual meeting. Producers in the Southeast indicated a 9.5% decline in cotton acreage to 2.4 million acres. This includes farmers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
Alabama is projected to produce 379,000 acres, a 12.9% decrease from 435,000 acres in 2022. Florida is expected to produce 76,000 acres, a 27.9% decrease from 106,000 acres in 2022.
“Planted acreage is just one of the factors that will determine supplies of cotton and cottonseed. Ultimately, weather and agronomic conditions are among the factors that play a significant role in determining crop size,” said Jody Campiche, NCC’s vice president, Economics & Policy Analysis.