Cotton Creeps Up on World Demand

U.S. cotton acreage will probably fall short of USDA's projected 13.15 million acres, but exports could be higher than projected on increases in world demand and continued stockpiling of cotton by the Chinese, according to analysts speaking at the Ag Market Network's March teleconference.

"A lot of things have happened since March 1," when the surveys for USDA's March 30 Prospective Plantings report were taken, said O.A. Cleveland, professor emeritus, Mississippi State University.

This includes more U.S. cotton producers shifting to corn. "We've had very good moisture through the Southeast and Mid-South," Cleveland said.