U.S. Cotton Area Inches Upward

WASHINGTON - Mar 31/05 - SNS -- The U.S. planted area for all cotton in 2005 is estimated at 13.8 million acres, up 1% from 2004, according to this year's seeding intentions estimates from the USDA.

Upland cotton acreage totaled 13.5 million acres, also up 1%. Growers intend to increase American-Pima cotton planted area 10% from 2004, to 275,000 acres.

Upland growers in the Delta States (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee) planted 3.83 million acres, up 12% from 2004. Farmers in Louisiana and Mississippi expect to plant 120,000 and 140,000 more acres than last year, respectively.

Producers in Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas intend to plant 6.08 million acres of upland, a 2% decrease from last year. Planting intentions in Texas are 150,000 acres below 2004. In the Southeast (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia), farmers expect to plant 2.92 million acres, 1% below 2004.

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