Cotton Ginnings Up 3% in 2005

WASHINGTON - May 12/06 - SNS -- A total of 23.3 million running bales were ginned during the 2005 season, 3% above 2004's ginnings of 22.6 million running bales, according to the USDA.

There were 887 active cotton gins during the 2005 season, down from the 896 gins that operated in 2004. Around 55% of the gins processed more than 20,000 bales compared with 53% the previous season.

All cotton production for 2005 is estimated at a record high 23.9 million 480-pound bales, 3% above last year's previous record. The U.S. all cotton yield averaged 831 pounds per harvested acre, down 24 pounds from last year's record high yield.

Upland cotton production, estimated at 23.6 million 480-pound bales, is the largest on record and 3% more than last year's production. The U.S. yield for upland cotton is 825 pounds per acre, down 18 pounds from 2004. American-Pima production totaled 630,500 bales, down 15% from 2004. The U.S. yield for American-Pima is 1,127 pounds per acre, down 316 pounds from 2004.

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