Cotton Planting in Many States Now Ahead of Five-Year Average

Once again, growers in most cotton-producing states took advantage of favorable field conditions to add another 16 percent to the total of overall planted U.S. cotton acres for 2014, according to the May 25 USDA Crop Progress report.

Based on the report’s numbers, 62 percent of all U.S. cotton has now been planted – just two percentage points behind the five-year average for this week. Most states reported double-digit increases in planting, with eight states – Arkansas, California, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee – now ahead of the five-year number for their respective states.

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Five states (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Louisiana and Missouri) now report more than 90 percent of cotton acres planted, with five others (Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia) showing more than 70 percent of planting complete.

Texas growers continue to gradually add acres to their planted total. The USDA report showed 49 percent of the state’s cotton acres had been planted – five percent behind the five-year average. But weekend rains throughout many parts of the state added much needed soil moisture for planting and germination – especially for dryland acres – and should put planting in the Lone Star State into high gear this week.

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