Business

Australia: 9% drop in cotton output estimated due to drought

Farmers will pick about 4 million bales of 227 kilograms (500 pounds) from an estimated 4.4 million bales in 2012-2013, according to Cotton Australia. The forecast compares with a prediction of 990,000 metric tons (4.36 million bales) by the Australian Bureau Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences. Sowing has started in central Queensland and is moving south.

“Dryland will definitely be down if there is no good rain between now and the close of the planting window” in mid to late November, said officials of Cotton Australia. “In the main irrigation areas, we’re expecting a small reduction on last year, but that could be rectified quite quickly if there are some reasonable rains.”

Queensland has an equal chance of a wetter or drier-than-normal September to November, the Bureau of Meteorology says. World cotton production will drop in 2013-2014 as the U.S., the biggest exporter, harvests its smallest crop in four years, according to the Department of Agriculture.