All cotton production is forecast at 14.3 million 480-pound bales, up less than 1 percent from the previous forecast and up 18 percent from 2023. Based on conditions as of December 1, yields are expected to average 792 pounds per harvested acre, up 3 pounds from the previous forecast but down 107 pounds from 2023. All cotton area harvested is forecast at 8.63 million acres, unchanged from the previous estimate but up 34 percent from last year.
By November 24, eighty?four percent of the Nation’s cotton acreage was harvested, 3 percent ahead of last year and 4 percent ahead of the 5?year average. Cotton harvest progress was ahead of the 5?year average pace in 12 of the 15 estimating States.
Cotton production in Georgia is forecast at 2.0 million bales, down 8 percent from last year. In Alabama, production is estimated at 670,000 bales, 8 percent below 2023. Florida production is expected to total 110,000 bales, 1 percent below last year.
This is Becky Sommer with the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.