MEMO: COTTON YEAR ENDS WITH GOOD PRODUCTION

Cotton production in Missouri has ended with decent yields for Bootheel cotton producers.

The projected yield of 660 pounds an acre -- 59 pounds higher than the 1999 yield -- is 550,000 bales and 17 percent above last year's yield.

The year started well, said Missouri University extension state cotton specialist Bobby Phipps. Farmers completed planting early, but high winds and rains created problems.

"At that point, we had one of the poorest crops on record," Phipps said.

Thrips and aphids were unusually bad, and bow weevil infestations resulted in the loss of several pound an acre in yield. Timely rains helped with harvesting, he said.