US cotton acreage to be up 6.2% in 2016

09 Feb '16

5 min read

According to NCC, this year's survey results are no different with growers intending to plant 1.2 million acres, a 24.9 per cent increase from the previous year.

“All the region's states are expected to increase cotton acreage. In Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, respondents indicate a reduction in wheat, soybeans and the other crops category,” it also informed.

In Missouri, cotton acreage is expected to increase while declines are expected for corn, soybeans and other crops' acreage and in Tennessee; acreage of corn, wheat and other crops is expected to move into cotton.

Southwest growers intend to plant 5.3 million cotton acres, a 6.1 per cent increase and increases in cotton area are expected in each of the three states.

In Kansas, land is shifting away from wheat and grain sorghum and Oklahoma cotton acreage is expected to increase as wheat acreage declines.

Overall, Texas cotton acreage is expected to increase by 5.6 per cent with south Texas responsible for the statewide increase.

The survey responses indicate that cotton growers expect to plant land that was idled in 2015 due to excessive moisture and little change in acreage was indicated in the state's other regions.

Far West producers are expecting to plant 213,000 upland cotton acres, a 24.4 per cent increase from 2015, with Arizona being responsible for the increase, with California and New Mexico acreage seeing slight declines.

The Arizona survey results suggest a shift from wheat and other crops to cotton and Arizona growers also are expecting to plant 34.8 per cent more ELS cotton.

The increase in California ELS acreage in 2016 is likely the result of expectations of increased water allocations.

The survey responses indicate that the modest increase in cotton acreage is largely the result of weaker prices of competing crops and improved expectations for water and favorable planting-time weather.

“Comments from respondents underscored the very difficult financial conditions facing cotton producers,” NCC also observed.

For the past two years, US cotton producers have struggled with low cotton prices and high production costs, and with current futures markets indicating steady prices, producers' economic situation is not likely to improve in 2016.

“Some producers, in fact, will find it very difficult to obtain production financing for the current year,” the cotton body noted. (AR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

More National Cotton Council of America News... More Textiles News - United States Of America...