15.35 Million Acres Projected
in NCC 2000 Planting Intentions Survey

U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 15.35 million acres of cotton this spring, up 3.3% from ,99, according to NCC's annual intentions survey released at annual meeting in Washington, DC. Survey revealed growers intend to plant 15.12 million acres of upland, increase of 3.8% from '99 while extra long staple (ELS) intentions of 232,000 acres reflect 20.2% decline from last year.

Based on survey, Southeast acreage will increase 0.6% to 3.48 million acres.

Increases indicated for North Carolina (10%) and Florida (8%) would mean highest acreages in those states since '37. Reductions are indicated for Georgia (-3.4%), Alabama, (-2.8%), Virginia (-6.8%) and South Carolina (-0.5%). In Mid-South, growers intend 6.6% increase to 3.98 million acres. All Mid-South states indicated increases: Arkansas (10.7%), Missouri (9.6%), Mississippi (6.7%), Tennessee (3.6%) and Louisiana (1.1%).

Southwest intends 3.1% increase to 6.625 million acres with increases in Texas (3.2%) and Oklahoma (5.4%). Acreage in Far West is expected to be up 8.7% to 1.03 million acres with increases in California (11.3%) and Arizona (8.8%) and 14% decline in New Mexico.

Decreases in ELS acreage are expected for California (-20.3%), New Mexico (-38.7%) and Texas (-29.9%). Arizona intends ELS expansion of 32.1% to 13,000 acres.

With average abandonment, total upland and ELS harvested area would be about 14 million acres, and with average yield, production would be 18.39 million bales. Cottonseed production is projected to increase 8% to 7 million tons.