U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 13.2 million acres of cotton this spring, down almost 14% from 2006, according to the National Cotton Council's (NCC) 24th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey.
Upland cotton intentions are 12.83 million acres, a decrease of 14% from 2006. Extra long staple (ELS) intentions of 361,000 acres represent a 10.9% increase from 2006. The results were announced at the NCC's 2007 Annual Meeting in February.
Assuming an average abandonment rate, total upland and ELS harvested area would be about 11.99 million acres. Applying state-level yield assumptions to projected harvested acres generates a cotton crop of approximately 20.66 million bales. This compares to 2006's total production of 21.73 million bales. Assuming average seed-to-lint ratios, 2007 cottonseed production is projected at 7.21 million tons, down from 7.66 million last year.
Based on survey results, the Southeast, Midsouth, Southwest and Far West show intended upland cotton planting decreases of 22%, 20%, 7% and 16%, respectively. Results for the Southeastern states show a significant shift into corn and, to a lesser extent, wheat. There is also a modest shift into soybeans.