U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 9.8 million acres this spring, down 3.7% from 2023, according to the National Cotton Council’s 43rd Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey.
About 9.6 million acres will be upland cotton, down 4.3% since 2023. Upland cotton is used to make general linens such as clothing. Extra-long staple cotton acres are expected to rise 37.7% to a total of 202,000. ELS cotton is used for finer linens and clothing.
The survey looked at varying states to determine how much cotton they plan to grow. In the Southeast, they plan to grow less cotton this year to make room for corn, soybeans and peanuts.
In the Mid-South, Arkansas and Louisiana will also plant less cotton, again, planning to plant more soybeans and ‘other crops.’ However, Mississippi will increase their cotton acreage by 1.3%.
The Southwest, including Texas and Oklahoma, also plan to grow less cotton, citing an increase of corn, sorghum and wheat production as their reasoning. Oklahoma is expected to reduce cotton acreage by 6.9%.
In the West, places like California, New Mexico, and Arizona, upland cotton acreage should increase by 21.5%. This means a decrease in corn growth and ‘other crops.’ Producers plant to grow more ELS cotton this year, as last year proved too wet for cotton growth. Texas will also plant more ELS cotton, approximately 22% more, while New Mexico is expected to decrease ELS acreage by 42.1%.
These predictions are merely a snapshot of intentions based on market conditions at survey, while actual plantings will be influenced by changing market and weather conditions. Since the survey period, cotton prices have increased while corn and soybean have declined. This change in pricing could result in higher cotton acreage in 2024.