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Abstract
U. S. cotton acreage has dropped sharply from 26.9 million in 1951 to 9.8 million in 1966, a decline of 64 percent. Cottonseed production was reduced only 29 percent during this period because of the strong uptrend in yield per acre. The 1966 cottonseed crop is estimated at 4.5 million tons, 27 percent less than in 1965 and the smallest since 1950. The sharp cutback reflects the heavy acreage diversion under the 1966 Upland Cotton Program. This year's short crop will result in (1) higher prices for cottonseed to farmers; (2) excess processing capacity; (3) a high price for cottonseed oil and wide premium over soybean oil, and (4) a decline in usage of cottonseed products both here and abroad.