The USDA Crop Progress report dated June 6 showed that growers continued to plant at a furious pace to finish as calendar and insurance deadlines loom. The report showed that 71% of the U.S. cotton crop has now been planted – up 7% from a week ago and about 6 percentage points below the 5-year average for early June.

In all, 10 cotton producing states are reporting planting totals between 90% to 100% complete – all ahead of their respective 5-year averages. The biggest percentage increases came from Kansas (up 23%), Louisiana (up 14%), and North Carolina and Virginia (both up 13%).

Squaring is now reported in 9% of the crop, with Arizona, Texas, Tennessee and Georgia continuing to lead the way.

Crop condition numbers are improved this week, with 44% of the U.S. crop rated good/excellent, 39% fair, and only 15% rated poor/very poor.