Crop Progress: U.S. Crop Continues to Mature

Based on the USDA’s Crop Progress report for the week ending Sept. 18, open bolls are now reported in 59% of the U.S. cotton crop – a 10 percentage point increase in the past week and 8 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average for this date. Ten states showed double digit increases in open bolls, led by Oklahoma (up 28 points), Arkansas (up 24 points) and Missouri (up 20 points), while 9 states are currently ahead of their respective averages.

Cotton harvest continues to warm up, as 11% of this season’s crop has already been picked. That’s a 3-percentage point increase in the past 7 days.

Crop condition reshuffles the national percentages again, with 33% rated good/excellent, 28% fair, and 39% poor/very poor.