By Brad Haire
University of Georgia
Several years ago, the quality reputation of Georgia cotton was
in question. But a University of Georgia expert says it has
improved.
“There’s no doubt that Georgia’s cotton quality has gotten
better,” said Don Shurley, a cotton economist with the UGA
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “The numbers
can’t be argued.”
Earlier this decade, some textile mills’ spokesmen reported that
Georgia cotton didn’t run through their mills as well as cotton
from other regions. Fiber lengths, consistency and strength were
thought to be the problem. The problem received state and
national media attention.
Georgia farmers can lose about 5 cents per pound due to quality
discounts, Shurley said. That added up to about $43 million in
potential income in 2002.
Concerned about Georgia’s cotton reputation, CAES scientists,
along with the state’s cotton industry, began looking into the
problem and educating farmers about it. Many things can affect
overall cotton quality. And farmers can do things to help
improve it. Harvest timing, variety choices, weather and insect
damage are now believed to be the main contributors.
Samples of each bale of cotton grown in Georgia are graded in
several categories at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
classing office in Macon, Ga. A bale is roughly 480 pounds of
ginned lint.
Shurley said Georgia’s grade for fiber length averaged 34.2 in
2003. That grade increased to 34.7 for both the ’04 and ’05
crops. A small point increase can reflect large quality
improvements.
Fiber strength improved, too, from a grade of 27.9 in 2003 to
grades better than 29 for the past two years.
“These grades have been as good as or better than cotton graded
in other parts of the United States,” Shurley said.
But farmers should be aware that Georgia’s fiber length
consistency, or uniformity, is still a bit lower than other
regions.
Georgia cotton color, too, has been a little off what high-end
buyers want to buy, Shurley said. But harvest timing and weather
conditions affect color.
Georgia farmers have started this month to plant the ’06 cotton
crop. They are expected to plant 1.3 million acres, about 7
percent more than last year, according to the Georgia
Agricultural Statistics Service. Harvest starts in October and
runs through November.
