Juye County, Shandong Cotton covered peach peeled cotton yield affected

Due to the continuous rainy weather, Juye County in Shandong Province has experienced some impact on cotton production, particularly with a significant portion of the cotton bolls falling off. However, the early growing conditions were relatively favorable, leading to a higher rate of boll setting. Industry analysts believe that if the weather stabilizes in the coming weeks, the yield of seed cotton could still reach 350–450 kg per mu, which is roughly similar to last year's actual output, though slightly below the earlier forecast of 500 kg per mu. Farmers are expected to begin picking cotton normally after the "October 11" holiday, but currently, only sporadic hand-picking is taking place at home. With rising prices for agricultural by-products and increased costs for planting this year, cotton farmers are anticipating a purchase price of 4.5–5.0 yuan per kilogram for their seed cotton, with some even expecting higher. On the other hand, local cotton processing companies have announced that they will start buying seed cotton at the end of October or early November, with prices likely ranging between 4.0–4.5 yuan per kg. Industry insiders note that due to the fluctuating cotton prices over the past two years—starting low and then rising—and the high price of garlic this season, many farmers have benefited from storing garlic and are now more inclined to hold onto their cotton. As a result, it is expected that local cotton prices will remain strong before the Spring Festival, making it difficult to create a large-scale purchasing rush. This situation highlights the cautious approach taken by both farmers and processors as they navigate the current market dynamics. The combination of weather uncertainty, input costs, and price expectations is shaping a complex scenario for the cotton industry in the region. With the harvest season approaching, the next few weeks will be critical in determining the final outcome for both producers and buyers.