Cotton Crop Progressing; Stress Chips Away on Crop Condition

On average, more than half of the U.S. cotton crop is now squaring, but stress on the crop continues to push crop conditions down.

Based on the July 7 USDA Crop Progress Report, 51 percent of the cotton in the top 15 cotton-producing states has now reached squaring, with 10 percent of the crop setting bolls. That’s an increase of 14 percentage points in the past week, but still 12 percent behind the same week a year ago – once again emphasizing the lateness of this year’s plantings.

Crop condition, however, continues its slight week-to-week decline. Cotton rated fair-to-excellent dropped six percentage points in the past week, while the ratings for poor-to-very poor jumped seven percent.