U.S. cotton growers could see a 27% drop in acreage for 2013 over last year, says the National Cotton council's annual early season planting intentions survey.
The Mid-South could see the biggest drop in acreage—some 50.6% fewer cotton acres than in 2012. The NCC estimate shows Mid-South cotton growers planting 1 million fewer acres in 2013.
Across the Belt, the numbers show a decline in favor of corn, soybeans or other crops. The numbers could change. The price of cotton has increased five cents per pound and corn and soybean prices have softened. A key barometer would be corn in the low $5 range and cotton in 80s by planting time.
As it stands, growers indicate a shift to corn and soybeans based on price.
National Cotton Council survey says growers intend on planting 9.01 million acres in 2013.
"Nine million acres is a good indication" of what the industry has been calling for, said Gary Adams, NCC vice president for economic and policy analysis.
A rundown of the NCC estimates follows.
MID-SOUTH, down 50.6%
Arkansas, down 67.9% from 2012 numbers at 221,000 acres.
Louisiana, down 37.3% at 144,000 acres.
Mississippi, down 58.1% at 199,000 acres.
Missouri, down 31.6% at 239 acres.
Tennessee, down 47.6% at 199,000 acres.
SOUTHEAST, down 18.5%.
Alabama, down 15.7% from 2012 numbers at 320,000 acres.
Florida, down 4.5% at 103,000 acres.
Georgia, down 15.3% at 1.093 million acres.
North Carolina, down 32% at 398,000 acres.
South Carolina, down 11.4% at 265,000 acres.
Virginia, down 28.3% at 62,000.
SOUTHWEST, down 24.4%
Kansas, down 10.4% from 2012 numbers at 50,000.
Oklahoma, down 12.3% at 267,000 acres.
Texas, down 25% at 4.9 million acres.
WEST, down 12.2%
Arizona, down 3.6% from 2012 numbers at 193,000.
California, down 21.4% at 112,000 acres.
New Mexico, down 21% at 36,000 acres.
The NCC released the estimates at its annual meeting in Memphis Feb. 9. The cotton group surveyed growers in late December and early January.