Crop Progress: A Tale of Two Extremes

The USDA Crop Progress report for the week ending Aug. 21 points out the two extremes in the condition of this year’s U.S. cotton production. The overall condition report for the week shows 31% of the crop rated good/excellent, 29% fair, and 40% poor/very poor. But a closer look at the state-by-state numbers show the extreme.

Good/excellent ratings across the Southeastern states range from 86% in Virginia to 60% in North Carolina. Likewise, the higher ratings across Mid-South all fall in the 50 to 60 percentile range. Conversely, poor/very poor ratings across the Southwest states reflect the crop losses already suffered – 62% for Oklahoma, 59% for Texas, and 43% for Kansas.

The report also showed that boll set is now reported in 88% of the crop – up 8 percentage points in the past week and 3 points ahead of the 5-year average. Open bolls are reported in 19% of the crop – up 4 points in the past week and slightly ahead of average.