Soybean Harvest 3.15 Billion Bushels

WASHINGTON - Nov 12/04 - SNS -- Record yields are expected to lift this year's cotton crop in the United States to 22.5 million 480-pound bales, up 5% from October and up 23% from last year, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Yields are projected to average 818 pounds per harvested acre, up 36 pounds from last month and 88 pounds above the previous record high yield established in 2003. Record high yields are expected in Arkansas, California, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.

Harvested area, at 13.2 million acres, is unchanged from October but 10% above 2003. Upland cotton harvested area, at 13.0 million acres, is unchanged from the October estimate but 10% more than last year. Harvest progress continues to lag well behind the 5-year average in most States. American-Pima harvested area, at 253,000 acres, is unchanged from October but up 43% from 2003.

American-Pima production is forecast at 720,000 bales, up slightly from the October forecast and up 67% from last year. The U.S. yield is forecast at 1,366 pounds per harvested acre, up 9 pounds from last month. California growers are expecting a yield of 1,425 pounds per harvested acre, up 11 pounds from the October 1 forecast. Harvest was limited early in October, but growers made considerable progress by the end of the month.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here