According to the March 31, 2009 USDA Prospective Plantings Report, U.S. cotton producers expect to plant 8.81 million acres of cotton this upcoming crop year. This amount is a significant decline over last year's number by nearly 7%. In a Delta Farm Press news item regarding the Plantings Report, it was reported that:
Growers intend to decrease planted area in all states except Georgia, Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The largest percentage declines are in Arkansas, California, Louisiana and Mississippi. Record low upland acreage is expected in Louisiana and Mississippi. Mississippi’s cotton acreage for 2009, at 300,000 acres, is less than half of its expected corn acreage of 630,000 acres.
American-Pima cotton growers intend to plant 143,500 acres, down 18 percent from 2008. California producers intend to plant 120,000 acres, down 23 percent from last year.
The Plantings Report projects a similar decline for wheat planting, but increases in rice and soybean plantings and a slight projected decline in corn acreage.
According to the Delta Farm Press article, if the projections for soybeans come to fruition, "the U.S. planted area would be the largest on record, but below what many analysts had projected for this season." In addition, the cotton acreage projections represent the lowest level in more than a quarter century.
An official USDA press release on the Plantings Report is available at the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service site. A direct link to the press release is available here.
