Record Cotton harvest for United States

WASHINGTON - Dec 9/05 - SNS -- All cotton production in the United States is forecast at a record high 23.7 million 480-pound bales, up 2% from the November forecast and 2% above last year, according to the USDA's final crop production estimates of 2005.

Yield is expected to average 832 pounds per acre, up 19 pounds from last month but down 23 pounds from 2004. If realized, production will surpass the previous record set last year, while yield would be the second largest on record. However, Georgia, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas are expecting record high yields. The December area expected for harvest remains unchanged from last month at 13.7 million acres but is up 5% from 2004.

Upland cotton harvested area, at 13.4 million acres, is unchanged from the November forecast but up 5% from last year. American-Pima harvested area, at 265,000 acres, is also unchanged from November but up 7 from the 2004 harvested area.

America-Pima cotton production is forecast at 674,000 bales, up 5% from the November forecast but down 10% from last year. The U.S. yield is forecast at 1,221 pounds per harvested acre. California growers are expecting a yield of 1,274 pounds. Harvest progressed throughout the month without any major weather interruptions.

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