By Jim Steadman 

As Hurricane Dorian begins its trek north along the Eastern Seaboard, the eyes of the cotton industry are closely watching the crop in Georgia and the Carolinas.

Based on the September 3 Crop Progress report from USDA, less than 50% of bolls in those states are currently open, with the storm projected to miss each state’s primary cotton production areas. Nationally, 36% of bolls are reported open – up 8% in the past week and 9% of the 5-year average for this date.

Boll set is all but complete, with 97% reported across the Cotton Belt. In all, 14 of the top 15 cotton-producing states are at or above their 5-year average.

Cotton condition continues to show week-to-week shifts in ratings, moving to the positive side this past week. Cotton is rated good/excellent in 48% of the crop (up 5% in the past week), likely shifting percentages from the fair category, which now sits at 37%. Cotton rated poor/very poor also showed 2% improvement on the week, moving to 15% nationally.