USDA Lifts Cotton Forecast

WASHINGTON - Oct 12/07 - SNS -- Cotton production in the United States is forecast at 18.2 million 480-pound bales, up 2% from last month but down 16% from last year's 21.6 million bales, according to the latest USDA crop estimates.

Yield is expected to average 826 pounds per harvested acre, up 15 pounds from last month and up 12 pounds from 2006. If realized, the yield will be the third largest on record. Harvested area of all cotton is expected to total 10.5 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 17% from last year.

Upland cotton production is forecast at 17.4 million 480-pound bales, up 2% from last month but down 17% from last year. Growers in the Southeast are expecting lower production than last month. However, in the Delta and Southwest regions, producers are expecting higher production than last month with record yields forecast in Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

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