USDA Reduces Cotton Forecast
WASHINGTON - Dec 10/15 - SNS -- Production of all classes of cotton in the United States is now forecast at 13.0 million 480-pound bales, down 2% from last month and down 20% from last year, according to the latest USDA production estimates for 2015.
Yield is expected to average 768 pounds per harvested acre, down 70 pounds from last year. Upland cotton production is forecast at 12.6 million 480-pound bales, down 20% from 2014. Pima cotton production, forecast at 451,000 bales, was carried forward from last month.
Upland cotton harvested area is expected to total 8.00 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 13% from 2014. Pima harvested area, at 154,300 acres, was carried forward from last month.
Harvest progressed throughout the cotton producing regions during November but continued to lag behind the 5-year average pace. As of November 29, 80% of the crop was harvested, 3 percentage points behind last year and 8 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Record high yields are forecast in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
Ginnings totaled 7,961,450 running bales prior to December 1, compared with 10,245,850 running bales ginned prior to the same date last year.
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