The Oct. 12 U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service report forecasts cotton production at 12.8 million 480-pound bales, down 2% from the previous forecast and down 11% from 2022.
Based on conditions as of Oct. 1, yields are expected to average 767 pounds per harvested acre, down 19 pounds from the previous forecast and down 183 pounds from 2022.
Upland cotton production is forecast at 12.5 million 480-pound bales, down 2% from the previous forecast and down 11% from 2022.
Pima cotton production is forecast at 356,000 bales, unchanged from the previous forecast but down 24% from 2022. All cotton area harvested is forecast at 8.02 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast, but up 10% from 2022.
Objective yield and farm operator surveys were conducted between Sept. 23 and Oct. 5 to gather information on expected yield as of Oct. 1. The objective yield surveys for corn, cotton, and soybeans were conducted in the major producing states that usually account for about 75% of U.S. production. Randomly selected plots were revisited to make current counts.
