USDA Boost Cotton Forecast

WASHINGTON - Nov 9/07 - SNS -- This year's cotton harvest looks to be 4% bigger than thought last month, the USDA now pegging the harvest at 18.9 million 480-pound bales in its latest crop report, down 13% from last year's 21.6 million bales.

Yield is expected to average 859 pounds per harvested acre, up 33 pounds from last month and up 45 pounds from 2006. If realized, the yield will be the largest on record surpassing the previous record of 855 pounds per acre set in 2004. 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 18.1 million 480-pound bales, up 4% from last month but down 13% from last year. A record high yield of 845 pounds per acre is forecasted for upland cotton. Production is higher in the Southwest and lower Delta regions with growers expecting record yields in Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. In Florida, Missouri, and Tennessee, producers are expecting lower upland production than last month.

American-Pima production is forecast at a record high 811,500 bales, up 5% from last month and up 6% from last year. American-Pima harvested area is expected to total 289,000 acres, unchanged from last month but down 11% from 2006. The U.S. yield is forecast at 1,348 pounds per acre, up 60 pounds from last month and up 212 pounds from 2006. California producers are expecting a record high production at 750,000 bales. By mid-October, harvesting and ginning had gained momentum and continued at a steady pace throughout the remainder of the month.

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