# Crop Progress: Cotton’s Slow Start Beginning to Show

Author: Jim Steadman
Published: 2021-06-28
Canonical URL: https://www.cottongrower.com/cotton-production/crop-progress-cottons-slow-start-beginning-to-show/

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The lateness of this year’s U.S. cotton crop is becoming more apparent in the [USDA Crop Progress report dated June 27](https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/8336h188j/5m60rp67b/h128pc34f/prog2721.txt).

Planting numbers are no longer being reported. But squaring numbers are telling the tale of crop maturity. This week’s report showed that squaring is reported in 32% of the U.S. crop – up 11% from a week ago and slightly behind the 5-year average for late June. California, Louisiana and Missouri showed the largest weekly increases. Yet only five states are currently ahead of average, with all other states lagging from 2% to 57% behind.

Boll set reports increased slightly for the week – now up to 7%.

Crop condition numbers remained steady this week, with 52% of the U.S. crop rated good/excellent, 41% fair, and 7% rated poor/very poor.