In the past few years, cotton acreage has taken a dip across the Belt as farmers reacted to attractive grain prices, and, in some areas, water issues. Despite this trend, many people in the industry have alluded to 2014 as the year that cotton acreage is expected to increase.
In December, Cotton Farming asked its readers where they expected to see an increase in cotton acres this year. The Southwest came out on top with 56 percent of the votes, followed by the Mid-South with 25 percent. One of the respondents commented on the cotton acreage increase possibilities in both of these regions:
“I believe we will see cotton acreage increase in the Southwest due to available moisture and in the Delta due to low corn prices. Also, if cotton would reach $1.00 so that the farmer could net $.90, we will see even more cotton in the Delta. As of now, the low corn prices are going to boost cotton in this area by 10 to maybe 15 percent.”
David Kerns, who served for a time as interim cotton specialist for Louisiana, said that Louisiana cotton producers sorely needed a year like 2013. When the November NASS report came in, Kerns noted that the preliminary numbers indicated Louisiana yields were averaging a record shattering 1,306 pounds per acre.
“Needless to say, we have a lot of very happy cotton farmers in Louisiana this year,” Kerns says. “The previous record was 1,017 pounds per acre set in 2007.
“Depending on grain and cotton prices, I expect to see as much as a 25 percent increase in cotton acreage in 2014,” he adds.
This month, we are asking our readers how confident they are in their weed control toolbox with which they have to work to put together an efficacious program for 2014.
Once the results of the January Web Poll are tallied, they will be posted on the Cotton Farming website at www.cottonfarming.com.
Web Poll Results
Where do you think we will see the biggest increase in cotton acres in 2014?
• Southeast: 13%
• Mid-South: 25%
• Southwest: 56%
• West: 6%
January Web Poll Question
Going into 2014, do you feel confident that you have the tools you need to put together an efficacious weed control program this spring?
(1) Yes
(2) No
(3) It depends.