USDA released the latest crop reports today. Becky Sommer, Cotton and Sorghum Statistician with USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has the details.
All cotton production (.pdf) is forecast at 14.0 million 480?pound bales, down 3 percent from 2022. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 779 pounds per harvested acre, down 171 pounds from the previous year. All cotton area harvested is forecast at 8.62 million acres, up 18 percent from 2022.
As of July 30, eighty?six percent of the Nation’s cotton acreage had reached the squaring stage, two percent behind last year and 1 percent behind the 5?year average. Forty?seven percent of the Nation’s cotton acreage had begun setting bolls, 10 percent behind last year and 3 percent behind the 5?year average. On July 30, forty?one percent of the 2023 cotton acreage was rated in good to excellent condition, 5 percent below the previous week but 3 percent above the previous year.
Cotton production in Georgia is forecast at 2.55 million bales, down 4 percent from the previous year. In Alabama, production is estimated at 705,000 bales, down 15 percent from 2022. Florida production is expected to total 155,000 bales, 6 percent below last year.
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Sabrina Halvorson
National Correspondent / AgNet Media, Inc.
Sabrina Halvorson is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and public speaker who specializes in agriculture. She primarily reports on legislative issues and hosts The AgNet Weekly podcast. Sabrina is a native of California’s agriculture-rich Central Valley.