Continuation of a multi-year drought will take a toll on Southwest cotton prospects with as much as one-third of Texas’ 5.7 million planted acres abandoned by harvest time.

Oklahoma, New Mexico and Kansas production is also limited by drought.

Across the Cotton Belt, various factors, including drought, rain and cold weather will reduce cotton prospects, according to experts gathered recently for the annual Cotton Roundtable at the Intercontinental Exchange in New York City.

Analysts estimate the total U.S. cotton crop will be 14.3 million bales but concede that the crop is a long way from being made and still subject to the vagaries of weather and pests.

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The Cotton Roundtable, now in its 13^thyear, is sponsored by the Intercontinental Exchange, Ag Market Network, Cotton Incorporated, Bayer CropScience and Farm Press Publications.

Delta Farm Press editor Elton Robinson covers the annual roundtable for Farm Press. Read his detailed report of the latest session here

Also of interest:

Rain may help cotton farmers get through summer

Public cotton breeding fills a gap

South Plains growers amazed at California agriculture