The U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting record yields for Louisiana's cotton crop even though production is projected to be 44 percent lower than last year.
Based on Nov. 1 conditions, farmers expect yields of 1,034 pounds per acre. If realized, that would be a record surpassing the 967 pounds per acre recorded in 2003. USDA also forecasts that farmers will harvest nearly all of the 330,000 cotton acres planted in the state, producing 700,000 bales, an estimate that is up from last month's but far lower than the 1.2 million bales produced last year. The average yield in 2006 was 946 pounds per acre.
Economists with the Louisiana State University AgCenter recently estimated that 300,000 traditional cotton acres were planted to corn instead this year, as corn, which generally costs less to produce, demanded higher prices fueled largely by demand for ethanol and more traditional uses.
Louisiana is expecting a record corn year, with production totaling 124.1 million bushels. That's up sharply from last year's 40.6 million bushels and far surpasses the previous high of 67 million bushels. The average yield, of 170 bushels per acre, also is expected to be a record, and up from 140 bushels per acre last year.
USDA also forecasts record yields for rice and soybeans in the state.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Based on Nov. 1 conditions, farmers expect yields of 1,034 pounds per acre. If realized, that would be a record surpassing the 967 pounds per acre recorded in 2003. USDA also forecasts that farmers will harvest nearly all of the 330,000 cotton acres planted in the state, producing 700,000 bales, an estimate that is up from last month's but far lower than the 1.2 million bales produced last year. The average yield in 2006 was 946 pounds per acre.
Economists with the Louisiana State University AgCenter recently estimated that 300,000 traditional cotton acres were planted to corn instead this year, as corn, which generally costs less to produce, demanded higher prices fueled largely by demand for ethanol and more traditional uses.
Louisiana is expecting a record corn year, with production totaling 124.1 million bushels. That's up sharply from last year's 40.6 million bushels and far surpasses the previous high of 67 million bushels. The average yield, of 170 bushels per acre, also is expected to be a record, and up from 140 bushels per acre last year.
USDA also forecasts record yields for rice and soybeans in the state.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
