U.S. Slashing Cotton Seedings

WASHINGTON - Mar 31/08 - SNS -- All cotton plantings for 2008 are expected to total 9.39 million acres, 13% below last year, according to this year's USDA seeding intentions estimates.

Upland acreage is expected to total 9.19 million, down 13% from last year, the lowest since 1983. Growers intend to decrease planted area in all States except Georgia and Oklahoma. The largest acreage declines are in Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. American-Pima cotton growers intend to decrease their plantings by 30% from 2007, to 203,600 acres. California producers expect to plant 180,000 acres, down 31% from last year.

Upland growers in the Delta States (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee) intend to plant 1.96 million acres, a 29% decrease from the previous year. Farmers in Mississippi expect to plant 420,000 acres, 36% less than last year and the lowest acreage on record. Louisiana producers intend to plant 280,000 acres, the lowest on record. Tennessee producers expect to plant 40% fewer acres than last year.

In the Southeastern States (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia) growers intend to plant 2.02 million acres, a decrease of 10% from last year. South Carolina, at 120,000 acres, is showing the largest decline in the region at 33% less than 2007. Alabama producers intend to plant 300,000 acres, down 25% from last year and the lowest acreage since 1983. Georgia producers expect to plant 1.05 million acres, an increase of 2% from last year.

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