News

USDA cuts cotton, rice crop estimates

The USDA made month to month reductions for the 2019 upland cotton and rice production estimates.

The upland cotton crop is now projected at 20.070 million bales, 4% less than October, but up 14% on the year, cutting the average yield 36 pounds to 784 pounds per acre and leaving harvested area unchanged. In 2018, upland production totaled 17.566 million bales with an average yield of 847 pounds per acre and harvested area of 9.957 million bales.

This year’s rice crop is pegged at 187.936 million hundredweight, down on both the month and the year, with average yield lowered by 29 pounds to 7,587 pounds per acre and no change to harvested area. A year ago, rice totaled 224.211 million hundredweight with an average yield of 7,692 pounds per acre and harvested area of 2.915 million acres.

The next set of supply, demand, and production estimates is out December 10th.

Comparisons for Brownfield states:

Arkansas: Cotton: 1.4 million bales, compared to 1.133 million in 2018; average yield of 1,133 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; Rice: 84.45 million hundredweight, compared to 107.325 million in 2018; average yield of 7,500 pounds per acre, compared to 7,500 a month ago and 7,520 a year ago; harvested area of 1.126 million acres, compared to 1.427 million last year

Missouri: Cotton: 970,000 bales, compared to 921,000 in 2018; average yield of 1,265 pounds per acre, compared to 1,265 a month ago and 1,373 a year ago; harvested area of 368,000 acres, compared to 322,000 last year; Rice: 12.975 million hundredweight, compared to 17.09 million in 2018; average yield of 7,500 pounds per acre, compared to 7,500 a month ago and 7,770 a year ago; harvested area of 173,000 acres, compared to 220,000 last year

Tennessee: Cotton: 930,000 bales, compared to 770,000 in 2018; record expected 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

The USDA says 2019 upland cotton ginnings continue to run ahead of the 2018 pace, mostly because of a larger crop and a faster pace in the southeastern U.S. As of November 1st, upland ginnings are 6,180,200 bales, compared to 4,777,400 this time last year, with harvest slightly ahead of the year ago pace. Friday, the USDA lowered its 2019 upland production guess from October, but it’s still expected to be 14% larger than last year. The next set of ginning estimates is out Monday, November 25th.

Ginnings in Brownfield states:

Arkansas: 520,700 bales, compared to 575,750 in 2018

Missouri: 256,750 bales, compared to 354,200 in 2018

Tennessee: 352,650 bales, compared to 360,900 in 2018