In the West, upland production is expected to decline to 1.4 million bales, 800,000 bales below average as area is reduced significantly there and below-average yields are expected.
In contrast, the ELS crop is expected to rise 31 percent above 2005 and remain concentrated in California; area and production there account for 84 and 88 percent, respectively, of the total ELS crop.
Total area planted to cotton is estimated at nearly 15.3 million acres, the highest in 5 years, while harvested area is forecast at 12.8 million, the lowest in 3 years.
The national yield, estimated at 762 pounds per harvested acre, would be the lowest since 2003. The lower harvested area and yield are the result of crop conditions that continue below last season and the 5-year average.
As of September 10th, 33 percent of the cotton area was rated “poor” or “very poor,” compared with only 12 percent a year ago. Similarly, only 39 percent of the 2006 area was rated “good” or “excellent,” compared with 65 percent in 2005.
latest U.S. Department of Agriculture
marketing@alchempro.com
