Planting is picking up across the cotton belt, and USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey has good news on planting and condition.
“Cotton planting remains pretty much on par, 59% planted on May 26th, 5-year average 57%. We also have our first look at cotton condition for the 2024 season which shows an optimistic start, and we have less drought than we’ve seen in a long time in the cotton belt. That leaves the crop, as of May 26th, in the middle of Memorial Day weekend, 60% good to excellent just 5% very poor to poor.”
As spring unfolded, peanut farmers took on another planting season. Rippey provides first looks into the progress and conditions shaping the 2024 peanut season.
“Peanut planting reaching about the 2/3 mark by May 26th at 67% planted is slightly behind the five-year average of 71% but equal to last year’s 67%. Number one production state, Georgia, is helping to pull that down a little bit. 63% planted their five-year average 75%. Our first look at peanut condition for the 2024 season, there’s a little room for improvement. We’re a little below last year starting off the season at 62%, good to excellent at 5%, and very poor to poor. 5% is the same number we saw this time of year ago but the good to excellent rating is lower this time of year ago, we were sitting at 70% good to excellent.”
