According to USDA’s Prospective Plantings report, U.S. cotton growers will plant 9.56 million acres in 2016 – an 11% increase over last year.
The report – released on March 31 – noted that upland acres will be up 11% to 9.35 million acres, while American Pima acres will climb 36% to 215,000 acres.
The report pointed out that, “Despite the expected increase, if realized, this will be seventh lowest planted acreage on record in the United States.”
All cotton-producing states except North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia are expected to increase acres over last year. If realized, upland cotton planted area in California for 2016 will be a record low.
The projected acreage reflects a four million acre increase over earlier 2016 acreage surveys conducted by Cotton Grower and the National Cotton Council.
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