Cotton producers in the United States could plant up to 9.1 acres of cotton this coming spring, up 6.2 per cent from 2015. In the mid-south, growers intend to plant 1.2 million acres, which is a 24.9 per cent increase from last year. Growers in the southwest are eyeing 5.3 million cotton acres, which indicates a 6.1 per cent leap.

Elsewhere in the US, far west cotton producers expect to plant 2,13,000 acres, totaling 24.4 per cent more than what was recorded in 2015. The southeast is the only region with an expected decrease of 5.1 per cent, reducing its total to 2.1 million acres.

Planted acreage is just one of the factors that will determine supplies of cotton and cotton seed. Ultimately, weather, insect pressures and agronomic conditions play a significant role in determining crop size. Upland cotton intentions are 8.9 million acres, which is a 5.7 per cent jump from 2015. Extra-long staple intentions of 2,08,000 acres make up a 31.2 per cent increase.

History has shown that US farmers respond to relative prices when making planting decisions. Cotton is grown in 17 states stretching across the southern half of the United States. Cotton is produced on about 18,600 farms in the US.