USDA Crop Progress: More Squares, First Bolls, Positive Conditions

According to the June 22 USDA Crop Progress report, the news surrounding the status of 2014 U.S. cotton crop remains positive. One quarter of the crop is now squaring, boll set has begun in some areas, and more than half of the crop is rated good to excellent.

Squaring is reported on 25 percent of young cotton plants from coast to coast – four percent ahead of last year’s pace and just two percent behind the five-year average for this date. Overall, that’s an 11 percent jump in the past week, with most cotton-producing states reporting increases from 5 to 30 percent.

USDA also reports that a very small percentage of U.S. cotton – three percent – is also setting bolls. Arizona leads in that category, with 15 percent of the state’s cotton showing boll set.

Overall crop condition is relatively unchanged in the past week. Fifty-three percent of the acres were rated good to excellent – a small increase over last week’s numbers. Three percent of the overall acres improved from fair to good condition, yet acres rated fair to excellent remains at 88 percent.

Twelve percent of cotton acres remain rated poor to very poor.