U.S. Shows Keen Interest in Cotton

WASHINGTON - Mar 31/04 - SNS -- Cotton producers in the United States intend to boost seeded area 7% to 14.4 million acres of both upland and American-Pima, according to the USDA seeding intentions report.

Upland acreage is expected to total 14.2 million acres, also up 7%. Growers intend to increase plantings of American-Pima cotton to 226,600 acres, a 27% increase from 2003.

Upland growers in the Delta States (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee) intend to plant 3.75 million acres, a 5% increase from the previous year.

Producers in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and New Mexico intend to plant 6.50 million acres of upland, up 10% from 2003. Texas' upland area is intended at 6.10 million acres, a 9% increase from last year. Farmers in the Southeastern States (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia) intend to plant 3.15 million acres of upland cotton, a 4% increase from 2003.

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