Crop Progress Notes for U.S. Cotton – September 30

By Jim Steadman|October 1, 2019

Hot, dry weather across most of the Cotton Belt in the past week continues to push the U.S. cotton crop to maturity quickly.

The USDA Crop Progress report for the week ending September 29 shows that open bolls are now reported in 77% of the crop – a 13% jump in the past week and 10% ahead of the 5-year average for this date. Ten states are showing open bolls in 80% or more of their fields.

Harvest percentage continues to grow, with 16% of the crop already at the gin – a 2% increase. The biggest gains in harvest percentage in the past week were reported in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. At this point, only California, Kansas and Oklahoma report no harvest activity.

Crop condition remains relatively steady with 40% rated good/excellent, 40% fair and 20% poor/very poor.