Major Cut in U.S. Cotton

WASHINGTON - Mar 30/07 - SNS -- Area planted to cotton for 2007 is expected to total 12.1 million acres, down 20% from last year, according to the USDA's seeding intentions estimates for 2007.

Upland acreage is expected to total 11.9 million acres, 21% below last year and the lowest since 1989. American-Pima cotton growers intend to plant 292,000 acres, down 10% from last year. Due to the increased demand and higher prices of crops used for bio-fuels, some producers intend to plant those crops instead of cotton.

Upland growers in the Delta States (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee) are expecting the largest decrease in acreage. Producers intend to plant 2.91 million acres, a 31% decrease from the previous year. Farmers in Mississippi expect to plant 740,000 acres, 40% less than last year and the lowest acreage since 1983. In Louisiana producers intend to plant 380,000 acres, the lowest since 1975.

In the Southeastern States (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia) growers intend to plant 2.55 million acres, a decrease of 24% from last year. The expected area in North Carolina, at 570,000 acres, represents the largest decline in the region at 34% less than 2006.

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