Paru dans The Commercial Appeal

Cotton farmers plan to plant 10.1 million more acres

WASHINGTON -- Farmers in Tennessee and Mississippi intend to plant 18 percent more acres in cotton this year compared to last and, nationally, the Cotton Belt will see 10.1 million more acres in cotton, according to National Cotton Council survey results released Friday.

The results were released in Memphis, where the Cordova-based council is holding its annual meeting at The Peabody.

Based on yield assumptions, the intentions, if actually planted, are expected to produce 15.5 million bales, up from 12.4 million in 2009.

In the Mid-South, Arkansas farmers intend to increase acreage by just 0.4 percent, but Mississippi farmers plan to plant 362,000 acres, up 18.7 percent from last year, and Tennessee farmers plan to plant 354,000 acres, up 18 percent.

The total acreage for upland cotton is projected to increase to 9.9 million, from 9 million last year, if intentions become reality, or an increase of 10.1 percent. Extra long staple cotton acreage in the southwest is projected to increase by 24.4 percent.

The council also announced Friday that Wallace L. Darneille of Lubbock, Texas, will be president of Cotton Council International, the council's export promotions division, for 2010. Elected to the Cotton Council International board was first vice president John D. Mitchell of Cordova. Mark D. Lange of Memphis was re-elected secretary.