Greek 2006-07 Cotton Output Seen Falling

WASHINGTON - Mar 14/06 - SNS -- Cotton production in Greece is expected to advance this season on account of improved weather conditions, but Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) reforms could discourage production in 2006-07, believes the U.S. agricultural attache for the country.

The final cotton output (seed cotton basis) for 2005 in Greece is reported at 1,200,000 MT. The product is expected to be of very good quality, due to the favorable dry weather conditions that prevailed during harvest. The national weighted-average of cotton yields was in the neighborhood of 3,352 kg/Ha (seed cotton basis).

Yields vary from region to region between 3,000 Kg/Ha to 4,100 Kg/Ha, according to weather and soil conditions, seed variety used and irrigation capacity. US cottonseed provides the higher yields to Greek farmers, always around 4,000 Kg/Ha of high quality product.

The 2005-06 weighted average ratio for the 85 ginning plants operated in Greece of seed cotton to lint yield, is reported at 36 percent. In bales (480 lbs), the 2005-06 output is estimated at 1,984,200 bales, compared to 1,791,292 a year earlier.

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