Projected Cotton Acres Jump 21 Percent

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects cotton acres to see a 21 percent jump this year. If that holds true, U.S. cotton farmers will plant 12.2 million all-cotton acres.

A Mississippi farmer told AgWeb.com “We will increase this year about 25 percent over last year, and last year we increased about 25 percent over the previous year.”

The farmer said he expects to plant 3,500 acres of cotton this year. 

National Cotton Council's (NCC) February planting intentions survey showed the largest spike in acreage will show up in the West, with Kansas seeing a 42 percent jump over last year.

China hasn't been a big buyer of U.S. cotton this year, but those tides are starting to turn.