Crop Progress: Keeping an Eye on Cotton Condition

By Jim Steadman|June 21, 2022

For all practical purposes, planting of the 2022 U.S. cotton crop is complete. According to the USDA Crop Progress report for the week ending June 19, 96% of the crop has been planted – up six percentage points in the past week and one point ahead of the 5-year average for the date. In all, 14 of the 15 cotton-producing states now show planting percentages of 95% or higher.

Squaring is now reported in 22% of the total crop – up 8 percentage points in the past week. Nine states showed double digit increases in squaring, with six states currently ahead of their respective 5-year averages.

The first reports of boll set were noted in this week’s report with bolls reported in 6% of the crop, led by early plantings in Texas and Arizona.

Reports this week of hot and dry conditions across the Cotton Belt are reflected in the crop condition numbers. Forty percent of the crop is rated good/excellent – down 6 percentage points in the past week. Thirty-four percent is rated fair (down one point), and 26% of the crop is currently rated poor/very poor (up 7 percentage points).