Mississippi may see cotton slip below 1 mil. acres

Cotton’s reign as king of Mississippi’s row crops remained unchallenged in 2006 as it posted an estimated $583 million production value, but growers paid a high price to bring it to harvest. Cotton’s estimated value rose 9 percent from the state’s $533 million production in 2005.

“It was a real frustrating year,” said Tom Barber, cotton specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “Some people picked the best crop they’ve ever picked, but it was probably the most expensive crop they’ve ever paid for.”

With the exception of localized showers, it didn’t rain from April when cotton was being planted until September across most of the state. Barber said by July 25 when cotton was filling out bolls, the drought was categorized as severe across the majority of the state, and extreme along the Gulf Coast. With few exceptions, the only good harvests in 2006 were from irrigated acres. Barber said just 40% to 45% of the state’s 1.2 million acres of cotton were irrigated.

Cotton prices have been about 55 cents a pound, but with high irrigation pumping costs, many producers had to have excellent yields to break even. Diesel fuel averaged about $2.20 cents a gallon, well above fuel costs in 2005. Barber said the effect of low cotton prices and high input costs is going to drive the 2007 cotton acreage in Mississippi to the lowest levels its been in years. “My guess is we’ll lose 25% to 30% and go below a million acres,” Barber said.

On top of the drought, producers fought a significant battle with seedling disease and had to replant many acres. After the crop was established, spider mites became a problem. In 2005, 300,000 acres were treated for spider mites in Mississippi, according to Angus Catchot, Extension Entomologist. “Up until that point, that was pretty much unprecedented for spider mites in Mississippi, but this year, we sprayed about 415,000 acres,” he said.

Budworm and bollworm numbers also spiked, and aphid numbers increased and required treatment on many acres.

- Source, Mississippi State University press release by Bonnie Coblentz