Crop Progress: Viable Cotton Acres Ahead of Average

By Jim Steadman|August 1, 2022

Cotton acres still considered viable across the Cotton Belt continued to hold their own during the past week, based on numbers from USDA’s Crop Progress report for the week ending July 31.

Overall, squaring is reported in 89% of the U.S. acres – a 9 percentage point climb in the past week and 2 points ahead of the 5-year average for the date. In all, 12 of the 15 cotton producing states surveyed are on or ahead of their respective 5-year averages.

Boll set is now found in 58% of the overall crop – up 10 percentage points in the past week and 8 points ahead of the average. The biggest percentage climbers in the past week were Kansas (up 21 points), Missouri (up 16 points), Arkansas and Tennessee (both up 15 points), and Alabama and Georgia (both up 14 points). Eleven states are currently rated ahead of their respective 5-year averages.

Overall crop condition showed a slight improvement in the past week as rain fell in several key areas of the Cotton Belt. This week, 38% of the crop is rated good/excellent, 35% fair, and 28% poor/very poor.