Little Change in Cotton Estimates

WASHINGTON - Dec 11/06 - SNS -- U.S. cotton production is forecast at 21.3 million 480-lb bales, virtually unchanged from the November forecast but down 11% from last year's record high production, according to the USDA's latest crop report.

Yield is expected to average 798 pounds per acre, unchanged from last month but down 33 pounds from last year. Compared with last year, yields are down in all States except Arizona, Arkansas, California, Tennessee, and Louisiana with growers in Arkansas and Tennessee expecting a record high production.

Upland cotton harvested area, at 12.5 million acres, is unchanged from last month but down 8% from last year. American-Pima harvested area, at 324,000 acres, is also unchanged from November but up 21% from 2005.

American-Pima cotton production is forecast at 729,000 bales, down 8% from the November forecast but up 16% from last year. The U.S. yield is forecast at 1,080 pounds per harvested acre, down 89 pounds from last month and down 47 pounds from last year. Harvest progressed throughout the month with favorable weather which allowed for second picking of the crop.

All cotton ginned prior to December 1 totaled 15,141,600 running bales, compared with 15,991,200 running bales ginned prior to the same date last year and 14,754,450 running bales ginned in 2004.

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