USDA: Tennessee cotton acreage to jump 21%

Tennessee cotton farmers are expected to plant 21 percent more cotton acreage in the 2011-2012 season, according to an analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

Total acreage for cotton in the 2011-2012 season could be 470,000 acres, up 80,000 acres from 2010-2011.

Mississippi farmers expect to increase cotton acreage by 110,000 acres; Arkansas farmers by 85,000 acres, according to USDA data.

For the total five-state Memphis territory — that includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee — total cotton acreage will grow 360,000 acres to 2.28 million acres, a 19 percent increase.

Nationally, the preliminary forecast is for a 20 percent increase in 2011-2012 cotton acreage in the U.S.

Cotton farmers are being encouraged to plant more based on current high prices for the commodity due to bad weather and more demand. Cotton future have nearly doubled in the last six months.

Read more: USDA: Tennessee cotton acreage to jump 21% | Memphis Business Journal