As predicted at the beginning of the 2010 growing season, farmers harvested a lot more cotton this year.

As of Dec. 15, 2010, according to National Cotton Council reports, the three southwestern cotton-growing states of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas had ginned 6,596,750 bales of cotton, compared to 3,858,250 bales at the same date in 2009.

And cotton gins are still running day and night with their yards crowded with modules waiting to be processed.

Texas, the big producer, reports a total of 6,268,250 bales ginned, compared to 3,672,200 bales in 2009.

Oklahoma gins processed 280,400 bales as of Dec. 15, 2010, compared to 174,850 bales as of the same date in 2009.

Kansas cotton farmers reported 48,100 bales ginned as of Dec. 15 this year, compared to merely 11,200 at this time in 2009.

Total upland cotton ginned by Dec. 15, 2010, for the 15 cotton-producing states totaled 14,793,250 bales compared to 9,415,000 bales at the same time in 2009.

All cotton, including extra long staple cotton, ginned was 15,131,550 bales compared to 9,727,950 bales in 2009.

NCC Variety Report

NCC provides a report each year of the most popular cotton varieties grown.

In Kansas, Americot had two varieties making up the majority of cotton acreage in that state. NG 1551 RF was planted in 28.3 percent of the cotton acres and NG 1572 RF had 26.5 percent of the planted acreage.

In Oklahoma, Bayer CropScience-FiberMax had two varieties making up the majority of acres planted this year. FM 960 B2 was planted on 30.4 percent of the acres and FM 1740 B2F was planted on 17 percent of the acreage.

In Texas, Bayer CropScience-FiberMax again was the leader in cotton varieties chosen by farmers this year. FM 9058 F was planted on 19.4 percent of the acreage and FM 9160 B2F was planted on 10 percent; 8.5 percent was planted to FM 9063 B2F, 6.8 percent to FM 9180 B2F and FM 0170 B2F was planted on 5 percent.

NCC 2011 COTTON planting survey recently was distributed to upland and ELS cotton producers. The survey, conducted each year to aid with industry planning and policy deliberations, provides the basis for the economic outlook presented to delegates during the NCC annual meeting in early Feb., 2011. Survey results will be presented during the Joint Meeting of Program Committees Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011.

To enhance the survey's accuracy, producers are encouraged to respond by the Jan. 18, 2011, deadline.

The current survey was distributed through a combination of regular mail and email with the intent of reaching all cotton farms across the cotton-growing states. Growers who did not receive a survey may contact the NCC via email at [email protected] for survey instructions.

TALKIN' COTTON is produced by NTOK Cotton, a cotton industry partnership which promoted and encourages increased cotton production in the Rolling Plains of North Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. For more information on the cotton scene, see ntokcotton.org. and okiecotton.org. For comments or questions about Talkin' Cotton, contact [email protected].