NEW YORK, March 22 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture issues its annual potential plantings report for crops such as cotton on March 31 at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT).

Below are some facts about the U.S. and world cotton industry.

HOW MUCH OF WORLD FIBER OUTPUT COMES FROM COTTON?

Cotton makes up around 40 percent of world fiber production.

HOW MANY COUNTRIES PRODUCE COTTON?

Around 80.

WHICH ARE THE TOP COTTON-PRODUCING COUNTRIES?

The leading producer is China, with 24 percent of world production, followed by India and the United States.

WHO ARE THE LEADING EXPORTERS OF COTTON?

The United States and Africa are the top exporters of raw cotton, according to the USDA, accounting for more than half of the $12 billion market worldwide.

The USDA forecast U.S. cotton exports at 15.75 million 480-lb bales in the August-July 2010/11 marketing year. Other top exporters are Uzbekistan, Australia and India.

WHO IS THE WORLD'S BIGGEST COTTON IMPORTER?

China, by far. In 2010/11, China is expected to import 15 million 480-lb bales.

WHICH ARE THE LEADING COTTON-PRODUCING U.S. STATES?

Texas, Georgia, Mississippi, California, Arkansas, North Carolina and Louisiana, accounting for an estimated 80 percent of U.S. production.

Texas is expected to sow around 6 million acres (2.4 million hectares) of cotton out of total U.S. cotton plantings of about 12-13 million acres in 2011/12.

WHEN IS COTTON PLANTED IN NORTHERN-HEMISPHERE COUNTRIES SUCH AS CHINA, INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES?

In the spring. Cotton planting starts when the soils have warmed sufficiently and frosts have ended.

WHEN DO U.S. FARMERS USUALLY PLANT COTTON?

In most areas of the cotton belt, planting normally takes place between April 15 and the end of May.

Planting can start earlier in the very southern part of the cotton belt such as the Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend regions of Texas near the Mexican border.

It is sometimes moved back to June, but that can delay the harvest until November, meaning some northern areas face possible frost damage to the plant and reduced fiber quality.

WHAT IS THE MAIN GROWING AREA IN TEXAS?

The South Plains of Texas is the largest contiguous cotton-growing region in the world.

While dryland (non-irrigated) cotton is successfully grown in this region, consistent yields are produced only with heavy reliance on irrigation water from the Ogallala Aquifer.

Since cotton is somewhat salt- and drought-tolerant, it is an attractive crop for arid and semi-arid regions.

HOW MUCH REVENUE DOES THE U.S. COTTON INDUSTRY GENERATE?

The U.S. cotton industry accounts for more than $25 billion in products and services annually, generating over 400,000 jobs in industry sectors from the farm to the textile mill.

WHAT SUBSIDIES OR SUPPORT DO U.S. FARMERS RECEIVE?

Most analysts estimate U.S. farmers receive a subsidy of $230 per acre of cotton farmed, a level around five times that for cereal crops.

U.S. cotton farmers received subsidies amounting to more than $3.3 billion in 2005. Source: USDA, Oxfam