Interest grows in U.S. acreage estimates coming in USDAΆs August report. Upland planted acres estimated at 60% of the U.S. total in the Southwest, 22% in the Southeast, 15% in the Delta and 2.6% in the West.

Cotton futures closed higher Tuesday, up 11 to 53 points across the board, as December rallied off an intraday sinking spell.

December settled up 46 points to 68.22 cents, in the upper quarter of its 164-point range from up 66 points at 68.42 to down 98 points at 66.78 cents. Its nine-day moving average crossed above the 18-day MA.

March posted the largest gain, closing at 67.90 cents, just off the high of its 157-point range from 66.42 to 67.99 cents. October closed up 29 points to 68.86 cents.

A weak U.S. dollar index may have contributed to support. December corn finished up 0.64% and November soybeans up 0.45%, well off the highs of big gains posted on USDAΆs lower U.S. weekly crop ratings. September Kansas City wheat closed down 0.79%.

Volume increased to an estimated 21,246 lots from 16,555 lots the previous session when spreads accounted for 3,779 lots or 23% and EFP nine lots. Options volume rose to 5,682 lots (2,836 calls and 2,846 puts) from 5,338 lots (3,749 calls and 1,589 puts).

Reports of crop damage and losses on the Texas Plains from hail and strong winds in recent weeks have intensified interest in what USDA will say about U.S. abandonment of planted cotton acres in its first survey-based estimates next month on acreage, yield and production.

Producers planted or intended to plant nearly 12.1 million acres of all cotton, slightly below the March intentions but up 20% from 2016, according to the June 30 acreage report used in the July crop estimates.

Upland plantings increased in each of the four Cotton Belt regions, according to current USDA estimates, with the Southwest accounting for 7.1 million acres, 19% higher than in 2016 and the second highest since 1981.

The Southwest upland acreage is estimated at 60% of the U.S. area, similar to a year earlier. Fifty-seven percent of the Southwest acreage is concentrated in the Texas High Plains, compared with 61% in 2016.

In the Southeast, growers planted nearly 2.6 million acres, about 400,000 acres above each of the previous two seasons. The Southeast is expected to account for 22% of the 2017 U.S. area.

For the Delta, plantings are estimated at 1.8 million acres, highest in five years but equal to the 10-year average. For the second straight season, the Delta is forecast at 15% of the U.S. upland area.

Upland area in the West also is expanding for the second year in a row, rising to 302,000 acres or 2.6% of the U.S. total.

In addition, USDA says, Pima or extra-long staple cotton plantings are estimated at 252,000 acres, 30% (57,000 acres) more than in 2016 and the highest since 2011.

The USDAΆs July estimate of the U.S. all-cotton area for harvest of nearly 11.2 million acres reflected 7% abandonment, up from 6% the last two years. The abandonment rate is based on the 10-year average by regions, with the Southwest forecast at 10% to reflect favorable moisture.

Yields are estimated at an average of 816 pounds per harvested acre, based on five-year average yields by region, down from 867 pounds in 2016 but up from 766 pounds in 2015.

Futures open interest dropped 168 lots to 216,138 on Monday, with OctoberΆs up one lot to 161, DecemberΆs down 369 lots to 162,949 and MarchΆs up 311 lots to 35,312.

Certified stocks declined 8,064 bales to 54,626, smallest since Jan. 5 when 40,470 bales were in deliverable position. There were 8,065 bales decertified and one newly certified bale. No cotton awaited review.