U.S. farmers produced their largest-ever cotton crop and second-largest corn and soybean crops in 2005, according to the Crop Production 2005 Summary released Jan. 12 by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
U.S. upland cotton production reached a record high for the second straight year. The 2005 crop of 23.1 million bales was 2% above last year's 22.5-million-bale record. The 13.4 million acres harvested in 2005 topped last year's acreage by 5%. Yields averaged 824 lbs./acre, down 19 lbs. from the 2004 record.
The full 2005 Crop Production Summary is available online at www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/cropan06.txt. The report contains year-end acreage, yield and production estimates for grains and hay; oilseeds; cotton, tobacco and sugar; dry beans, peas and lentils; and potatoes and miscellaneous crops.