Henan’s cotton belt covers the entire province, but the largest blocks of acreage are located in the northeast in the Anyang/Shangqiu area. The eastern areas also contain large cotton acreage, with a smaller percentage of the acreage falling in the central and southern areas. In the eastern central growing area near Fugou, growers are now indicating that total output in the region could decrease 50 percent from 2006 due to the excessive rain. 20 percent of the acreage is a total loss. This week has brought a drier weather pattern to the central areas. Picking is expected to begin September 10, with procurement not to start until October 20, which is 30 days later than last year.

The northern cotton areas are enjoying dry, hot weather, with no rain in the seven-day forecast. The northeastern growing areas will have an additional chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday, August 18 - 19. Tropical Storm Sepat is now forecast to hit East China on Saturday, with its remnants likely to impact Henan Province next week.