Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #161785
Title: COTTON GINNING TRENDS

Author
item VALCO, THOMAS - 0109-00-00
item NORMAN, BILL - NAT'L COTTON GINNERS ASSN

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Valco, T.D., Norman, B.M. 2004. Cotton Ginning Trends. In the Proceedings of the National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. January 5-9, 2004, San Antonio, Texas. 2004 CD-ROM

Interpretive Summary: The decline in gin numbers in the U.S. is far from over because of the efficiencies and increased services of higher volume gins. Ginners are looking for every opportunity to improve the bottom line by increasing capacity, volume, and value to the customer. Cotton ginning will become increasingly sophisticated with the use of new technology to reduce labor and operating costs, while optimizing market value. Utilization of gin byproducts, such as motes, cottonseed, and trash will find increasing value. Good business management practices, as well as machinery operation procedures and adoption of new technology, will be critical. No gin should be expected to follow all of these trends; however good management and training are required to be successful.

Technical Abstract: The United States cotton ginning industry has seen many new trends over the past years. These trends include the consolidation of gin plants, adoption of mechanically harvested cotton, universal density bales and net weight trading, long-term cottonseed storage at the gin, adoption of HVI cotton classing and gin process control, electronic data handling, and increasing environmental regulations. Gin numbers have steadily declined while annual volume and operational costs continue to increase. Gin owners are looking for every opportunity to improve the bottom line by increasing capacity, volume, and value to the customer. Gins will become increasingly sophisticated with the use of new technology to reduce labor and operating costs, while optimizing market value. Gin owners, managers, investors, and researchers will need to make informed decisions on the adoption of future technology.