Cotton planting expected to increase about 45% in MY 2011

USDA's Global Agriculture Information Network (GAIN) released Turkey Cotton Products Update May 2011 wiht Assessments of Commodity and Trade Issues.

The MY 2011 Turkish cotton crop area and production are now estimated about 450,000 hectares and 630,000 MT (2.9 million bales). Record high world cotton prices caused farmers to plant cotton but continued rains during the planting season delayed planting, which will cause a drop in yields. MY 2010 total consumption is expected to decline to 1.2 MMT (5.5 million bales), however, as a result of high prices. Year-end imports are estimated to remain at about 700,000 MT (3.2 Million bales). Imports during the first eight months of MY 2010 reached 521,000 MT (2.4 million bales), of which U.S. cotton constituted more than seventy percent.

Production

Country wide continuous rains during pril and first half of May had prevented cotton planting. Farmers were able to plant during the second half of May, about a month later than usual. Late planting will cause many problems in picking, ginning and quality since cotton will be vulnerable to rains in the fall. MY 2011 cotton area and production are now estimated to be about 450,000 hectares and 630,000 MT (2.98 million bales). It is reported that attractive world prices persuaded farmers not to plant winter grains such as wheat and corn in cotton growing areas, hence domestic cotton planting is expected to increase about forty-five percent in MY 2011.

Record world cotton prices persuaded farmers to plant cotton despite the uncertainty about the cotton production bonus for the crop year. GOT announced crop production bonuses for other crops under the program about two months ago with the exception of seed cotton. Following repeated requests from farm groups, the Agricultural Minister unofficially released last weekend that the production bonus for seed cotton will be 0.42 per kilogram, the same as last year.