USDA Boosts Cotton Harvest Estimate

WASHINGTON - Oct 12/04 - SNS -- The USDA lifted the estimated of this year's cotton harvest in the United States 3% from its last estimate to 21.5 million 480-pound bales, 18% above last year's 18.3 million bales.

In its latest crop report, the USDA said this year's yield is now expected to average 782 pounds per acre, up 24 pounds from last month and 52 pounds from 2003. If realized, both production and yield would be the largest on record.

Thirteen of the 15 published States are expecting production to remain the same or increase from a month ago. Harvested area, at 13.2 million acres, is the same as September but up 10% from 2003.

Upland cotton harvested area, at 13.0 million acres, is the same as last month but 10% above 2003. Based on additional survey and administrative data, Alabama expects to harvest 10,000 acres less than September, while Mississippi harvested area increased by 10,000 acres. American-Pima harvested area, at 253,000 acres, is the same as last month but up 43% from last year.

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