Cotton growers throughout the Cotton Belt made substantial progress in planting during the past week. According to the June 2 USDA Planting Progress Report, 82 percent of the nation’s cotton crop is now in the ground – a 23 percent increase in planted acres over last week’s numbers.
Based on this report, growers have essentially caught up with the four-year average (2008-2012) of 83 percent planted by early June. And even with this year’s late spring, planted acres are now only five percent behind last year’s early planting totals.
Most of the key 15 cotton-producing states show 90 or more percent of acres planted. Growers in several states – notably Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee – were slowed by continued wet weather, but still increased plantings from 20 to 40 percent.
Texas also showed significant progress, as planting activity continues to increase in the High Plains. Growers in Oklahoma and Kansas also continue to move ahead, with nearly 50 percent of each state’s crop in the ground in spite of severe weather outbreaks.