U.S. Cotton By the Numbers

By Jim.Robinson|January 21, 2010

In a report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on January 14, 2010:

All U.S. cotton production was estimated at 12.4 million 480-pound bales, down 2 percent from last month and down 3 percent from 2008. The U.S. yield is estimated at 774 pounds per acre, down 8 pounds from the December 1 forecast and down 39 pounds from last year. Harvested area, at 7.69 million acres, was down less than 1 percent from December, but up 2 percent from last year.

All cotton ginnings totaled 10,819,300 running bales prior to January 1, compared with 11,572,250 running bales prior to the same date last year, and 15,700,350 running bales ginned by January 1, 2006.

In cottonseed, production for 2009, based on a three-year average lint-seed ratio, is expected to total 4.18 million tons, down 3 percent from last year.

The 2009-10 U.S. cotton estimates included slight decreases in production and ending stocks compared with last month. Production was lowered by 191,000 bales, as reductions in the Southeast, Delta, and Southwest states were partially offset by increases in the far west. Domestic mill use and exports were unchanged. The ending stocks forecast was reduced to 4.3 million bales, or 30 percent of total use. The forecast range of 57 to 64 cents per pound for the average price received by producers was raised 1 cent on the lower end.