FACTS
ABOUT CALIFORNIA COTTON
Cotton is grown primarily in the San Joaquin Valley, but some acreage is also grown in the Palos Verde Valley, and more recently has even made a return to the Sacramento Valley.
California’s cotton production varies from year to year depending on acres planted and yields per acre. Acreage trends have been downward over the past several years for various reasons ranging from cotton prices, competing crops to water shortages. Over the last 5 years we’ve seen acres decline from 667,000 acres in 2005 to 190,000 acres in 2009, the lowest since the 1920’s. Average acreage during this period was 428,000 acres and average production has been 1.15 million bales per year.
California produces two types or species of cottons. One is the Upland or Acala types and the other is the extra long staple or Pima type. Acreages of Upland or Acala types have ranged from 436,000 in 2005 to 72,000 in 2009. Average plantings for this period was 221,000 acres, and production average per year was 602,000 bales. Acreage of ELS or Pima types have ranged from 231,000 in 2005 to 118,000 in 2009 with the last 5 year average of 207,200 acres and an average production of 534,900 bales.
California’s production of ELS or Pima cotton represents approximately 90% of the total U.S. production. Production of upland types represent only about 4% of U.S. annual production on average.
In 1963, there were 299 active cotton gins in California, the highest ever. In 2009, there were 34 active gins. Although the numbers are declining, the capacities and efficiencies of the remaining facilities are being increased accordingly.
A full size bale of cotton lint weighs approximately 500 pounds and stands about 41/2 ft. high. A typical bale can produce as many as 8000 handkerchiefs, or 3400 pairs of socks, or 750 shirts, or 3000 diapers, or 325 pairs of jeans, or 200 full size bed sheets to name a few examples.
Cottonseed production is directly related to the lint production and as such varies from year to year depending on acreages and yields of lint. Production for the past 5 years has ranged from 610,000 tons in 2005 to an estimated 175,000 tons in 2009. California’s production represents approximately 7% of U.S. total annual cottonseed production on average. Over 95% is fed to dairy cattle and the balance is crushed for the oil. Cottonseed when crushed produces many byproducts, which are common in everyday use. Linters, which is the fuzz left on the seed after ginning, are used for such items as dynamite, filler in gun powder, mops, cotton balls, automotive upholstery, fine writing paper and currency. Cellulose, which is the principal component of the cotton fiber, when extracted from the linters is used to make food casing, paint, toothpaste, and plastics for windshields, tool handles, x-ray film, just to name a few. Cottonseed hulls are mainly used for animal feed. Cottonseed Oil is used for cooking oil, salad dressing, cosmetics, soap, and as a carrier for agricultural sprays (no VOC). The cottonseed meal and cake is used for fertilizers and feed for cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, fish and shrimp. The average 725 lbs of seed realized from enough seed cotton to produce one 500# bale of cotton lint will produce enough oil to cook nearly 6,000 snack sized bags of potato chips.
The California cotton industry directly provides for over 20,000 jobs on farms, in gins, warehouses, cottonseed oil mills, and textile mills. In addition to the direct industry employment, when employment related to the value added goods and service of cotton's domestic and export trade, it is estimated that cotton accounts for an additional 137,000 jobs in California. Revenues generated in the form of products and services by this industry to California’s economy are in excess of $2.0 billion dollars annually. Approximately 95% of California's high quality cotton lint is exported each year, principally to Pacific Rim countries. The value of California cotton exports including lint, cottonseed and other products approximates $1.0 billion dollars annually.
