Widespread boll-rot and boll-lock reported in the South Delta. Crop progressed rapidly in the Southeast. Coastal Bend cotton reported 70% off the stalk. Seeds sprouted in Blackland Prairie bolls. Growers continued to water cotton on the Plains. Modules moved to gin yards around Yuma. San Joaquin Valley cotton made good progress.

Cotton futures fell to a new intraday low and new low settlement for the move Monday, extending the prior sessionΆs reversal lower and shrugging off reports of excessive rains in some areas.

Benchmark December settled down 108 points to 66.95 cents, in the lower quarter of its 154-point range from up 11 points at 68.14 to down 143 points at 66.60 cents. It hit the lowest intraday price since July l1 and the lowest settlement since July 8.

Nearby October lost 102 points to close at 66.69 cents, March shed 93 points to 67.43 cents and May dropped 87 points to 67.65 cents.

Volume edged up slightly to an estimated 16,940 lots from 16,395 lots the previous session when spreads accounted for 4,490 lots or 27%, EFP 252 lots and EFS 187 lots. Options volume totaled 794 calls and 3,711 puts.

Widespread boll-rot and boll-lock have developed in the South Delta owing to prolonged wet conditions, according to a weekly cotton review from USDAΆs Agricultural Marketing Service on Friday.

Some local sources indicated that up to 30% of earlier estimated yields could be lost in some fields in Louisiana and Mississippi. Fields that had previously cutout exhibited signs of regrowth. Some minor seed sprouting in the boll also was reported. Bollworms were treated in some fields. Producers reported a higher-than-average incidence of target spot. Some fields were treated with fungicides.

Boll-rot, hard-lock and seed sprouting in the boll also were reported in some fields in the North Delta. Damage assessments were underway. Defoliation was expected to begin within a week on earlier planted fields, provided conditions were dry enough. Plant-growth regulators were applied to some late-planted fields. Bollworm pressure was light.

Cotton progressed rapidly in the Southeast. Growers would welcome additional moisture on dryland fields in areas of South Georgia and parts of the Carolinas to help invigorate wilting plants that have missed rain in recent weeks. Producers treated for stink bugs in the lower Southeast.

Heavier-than-usual moth flights were reported in parts of the Carolinas and Virginia. Producers scouted fields that remained susceptible to boll injury. Higher rates of pyrethroid sprays were recommended where hotspots of bollworms and larger moth flights were seen.

About 70% of the Texas Coastal Bend crop was off the stalk and in modules. Harvesting expanded in the Upper Coast but was slowed by rain, which also stalled defoliation and harvesting in the Winter Garden.

Seeds in around 10% to 15% of opened bolls had begun to sprout in the Blackland Prairies because of 9 to 11 inches of rain over nine straight days, sources estimated. Some fields had begun to dry and harvest-aids were applied late in the reporting week. Ginning was expected to begin in early September. Producers were finalizing the Rio Grande Valley harvest.

Producers continued to water irrigated acreage in most of the West Texas Plains but were able to give wells a rest in some areas where intermittent showers brought up to almost 6 inches of rainfall. Most dryland fields received a boost from spotty storms. The last generalized effective bloom dates were reached and plants shed squares and small bolls to help mature harvestable bolls, industry sources said.

Defoliation and harvesting gained momentum around Yuma in the Desert Southwest. Modules were moved to gin yards. The crop progressed normally in Central and East Arizona. Plants showed excellent boll loads but some shedding was reported.

Air quality was hazy with ash from wildfires in surrounding areas early in the period in the San Joaquin Valley. The crop made good progress. Producers prepared to apply the final irrigation.

Futures open interest grew 2,302 lots Friday to 228,482, with DecemberΆs up 2,102 lots to 156,427 and MarchΆs up 198 lots to 48,160. Certified stocks declined 1,887 bales to 47,613.