The USDA has lowered its expectations for the 2023 U.S. cotton crop.
Upland cotton production is now estimated at 12.445 million bales, a decline 2% from November, with an average yield of 758 pounds per acre, 18 below a month ago and no changes to harvested area at 7.88 million acres.
That projected 2023 total is 10% below a year ago with production dragged down by ongoing drought in some key states impacting yields, especially Texas, the nation’s largest cotton producer.
