News

USDA: cotton crop up sharply on year

The USDA has reduced its expectation for this year’s cotton crop, but it should still much larger than a year ago.

Upland cotton production is seen at 21.145 million bales, down 3% from August, but up 19% from the 2018 total of 17.566 million, with an average yield of 826 pounds per acre, compared to 873 a month ago and 847 a year ago. Planted area for cotton was also down on the year at 13.531 million acres, compared to 13.85 million last year, but the USDA expects a much lower rate of abandonment this year and a much higher harvested area total. Harvested area in 2019 is projected at 12.281 million acres, compared to 9.957 million in 2018.

Rice is pegged at 187.326 million hundredweight, compared to 224.211 million last year last year, with the projected average yield and harvested area also expected to decline. Average yield is currently seen at 7,563 pounds per acre, compared to 7,577 last month and 7,692 last year. Harvested area is estimated at 2.477 million acres, compared to 2.915 million a year ago.

The USDA also left cotton ending stocks unchanged, while tightening the balance sheet for rice.

The USDA’s next round of supply, demand, and production numbers is out October 10^th.

Comparisons for Brownfield states:

Arkansas: Rice: 83.887 million hundredweight, compared to 107.325 million in 2018; average yield of 7,450 pounds per acre, compared to 7,450 a month ago and 7,520 a year ago; harvested area of 1.126 million acres, compared to 1.427 million last year; Cotton: 1.47 million bales, compared to 1.133 million in 2018; average yield of 1,157 pounds per acre, compared to 1,157 a month ago and 1,133 a year ago; harvested area of 610,000 acres, compared to 480,000 last year

Missouri: Rice: 12.975 million hundredweight, compared to 17.09 million in 2018; average yield of 7,500 pounds per acre, compared to 7,300 a month ago and 7,770 a year ago; harvested area of 173,000 acres, compared to 220,000 last year; Cotton: 1 million bales, compared to 921,000 in 2018; average yield of 1,304 pounds per acre, compared to 1,239 a month ago and 1,373 a year ago; harvested area of 368,000 acres, compared to 322,000 last year

Tennessee: Cotton: 930,000 bales, compared to 770,000 in 2018; projected record high average yield of 1,116 pounds per acre, compared to 1,128 a month ago and 1,041 a year ago; harvested area of 400,000 acres, compared to 355,000 last year