USDA Inches Cotton Estimate Lower on Month

WASHINGTON - Oct 9/09 - SNS -- This year's U.S. cotton crop is forecast at 13.0 million 480-pound bales, down 3% from last month but up 1% from last year, according to the latest USDA crop production estimates.

Upland cotton production is forecast at 12.6 million 480-pound bales, down 3% from last month but up 2% from last year. Producers in the Delta region are expecting decreased yield due to excessive amounts of rainfall received during September. Upland growers in Alabama and Georgia are expecting record high yields.

Upland cotton harvested, at 7.59 million acres, is virtually unchanged from last month but up 3% from a last year. American-Pima harvested area, at 146,200, was carried forward from the August forecast.

The American-Pima production forecast was carried forward from the August forecast, at 367,000 bales, down 15% from last year. The U.S. yield is forecast at 1,025 pounds per harvested acre, down 21 pounds from last year.

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