Author
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Anthony, William |
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Submitted to: Southeast Farm Press
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2005 Publication Date: 2/23/2005 Citation: Anthony, W.S. 2005. Cotton ginning: what farmers should know. Southeast Farm Press. Official program. pp. 52-54. Interpretive Summary: NOT REQUIRED FOR REVIEW ARTICLE Technical Abstract: This article summarizes some key points that farmers should know. In order to meet demands of the foreign and domestic markets, farmers must carefully select cotton varieties capable of meeting those demands. Gins must use all available technology as well as emerging technologies to ensure that market demands. Seed cotton should not be exposed to temperatures above 350°F during drying. A computerized process control system, IntelliGin®, controls drying and cleaning to optimize monetary returns to the farmers, and increases net bale value about $8. Since some cottons do not require a full stage of saw-type lint cleaning, a system was developed to select a variable number of cleaning points (grid bars) in a lint cleaner. The concept became commercially available as the LouverMax® lint cleaner in 2002 and over 50 units were in use worldwide in 2004. The LouverMax reduces the amount of good fiber lost by the lint cleaner and increases bale weight 8 to 10 pounds. Since moisture at ginning helps reduce fiber damage, all gins should be equipped with methods to add moisture before the gin stand. However, bales should never be packaged above 7.5% moisture in order to avoid significant fiber degradation (primarily color) during storage. When excess moisture is applied at the gin, bales lose weight and color during storage. Merchants have recently reported losses of 10 pounds or more per bale between the gin and the textile mill. |
