Cotton acreage in the West is in sharp decline due largely to drought and irrigation water availability.

California once boasted well over one million acres of Upland cotton. In recent years Pima varieties became more popular among growers because the premium, extra-long-staple varieties could command a higher price. Growers this year were said to have planted just over 91,000 acres of Pima and another 35,500 acres of Upland varieties, according to the California Cotton Growers and Ginners Association.

Mapping by the California Department of Food and Agriculture will soon confirm these figures.

Kings County, Calif. tends to be the leading cotton producer in the state.

Arizona too is down about 5.6% in total cotton acreage, according to the Arizona Cotton Research and Protection Council. Preliminary numbers reveal about 112,000 acres of Upland cotton and less than 7,000 acres of Pima cotton were planted this year in the state.

Pinal County, Ariz. tends to be the leading cotton producer in total acres. Graham County tends to produce the lion's share of the state's Pima crop.

Luke Bayci, cotton merchant with Handwerker-Winburne, Inc. told Arizona cotton growers at a recent meeting in Flagstaff that much of the U.S. cotton crop was behind slightly in scheduled planting. Arizona was characterized as "oddly cool" during the spring, leading to planting that was "slightly behind."

U.S. cotton stocks are projected to fall to 3.1 million bales. The U.S. is currently "sold out" of Pima cotton, according to several cotton industry leaders at the recent Arizona cotton industry meeting.