# Crop Progress: Cotton Catching Up to Five-Year Averages

Author: Jim Steadman
Published: 2023-08-21
Canonical URL: https://www.cottongrower.com/cotton-production/crop-progress-cotton-catching-up-to-five-year-averages/

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For a crop that’s generally been behind schedule for most the season, the 2023 U.S. cotton crop is progressing back to within a few percentage points of its 5-year average for mid-August.

According to [USDA’s Crop Progress report for the week ending Aug. 20](https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/8336h188j/0r968m29b/nk323x16d/prog3323.pdf), boll set is now visible in 81% of the crop – off average by 3 points. And open bolls are reported in 19% of the crop – just one point behind the average.

Boll set gained 9 percentage points in the past week, with 9 cotton producing states on or ahead of their respective averages. Open bolls gained 5 percentage points in the past week, led by impressive gains in Arkansas (up 16 points) and Louisiana (up 14 points).

Cotton condition continues to be a concern, especially in Texas and Oklahoma. The report shows that 33% of the total crop is rated good/excellent, 21% fair, and 46% poor/very poor – including poor/very poor ratings of 71% for Texas and 65% for Oklahoma. Crop ratings remain strong in the Southeast and Mid-South. We’ll know in next week’s report about any setbacks from Hurricane Hilary in the Western states.