Louisiana Cotton Acreage Could Increase in 2016

Story by Carey Martin & The National Cotton Council

Louisiana cotton producers intend to plant more cotton this year, according to the National Cotton Council’s 35th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey, announced at the NCC’s 2016 Annual Meeting in Dallas, TX.

The survey indicates that cotton acreage may climb from 115,000 acres in 2015 to 124,000 acres this year, an increase of 8 percent. 

Nationwide, upland cotton intentions are 8.9 million acres, up 5.7% from 2015, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 208,000 acres represent a 31.2% increase.

The NCC questionnaire, mailed in mid-December 2015 to producers across the 17-state Cotton Belt, asked producers for the number of acres devoted to cotton and other crops in 2015, as well as the acres planned for the coming season. Survey responses were collected through mid-January.