The objective of this ongoing project is to provide a forum to address industry quality issues and to maintain U.S. technological lead in quality measurement technology and quality preservation.

During 2004-05, the National Cotton Council’s Quality Task Force (QTF) issued a directive on bale moisture that became the basis for the NCC and an industry advisory. The QTF also reinforced the ongoing initiative to prevent lint contamination. Significant effort went toward supporting U.S. interests in China’s cotton classing reform efforts with China appearing to have a favorable leaning toward adopting the most important elements of the U.S. classing system. Also, under view of the QTF, the USDA is making adjustments to the Loans Premiums and Discounts schedule.

The QTF will be supported in its fall 2005 meeting where it likely will focus on such quality research priorities as loan schedule simplification, moisture management, pepper trash, and extraneous matter, including prep, short fiber measurement, sticky cotton and white flies. Among other project activities will be: 1) coordinating activities of USDA, NCC, Cotton Council International and Cotton Incorporated with the China Fiber Inspection Bureau plan for modernization of China’s cotton grading system; 2) representing U.S. cotton’s interests at the 2006 International Textile Federal Meeting and 3) coordinating comments for the International Cotton Advisory Committee expert panel on instrument testing.

Researchers are conducting analyses of cotton fabric contaminants of unknown origin.

With a goal of zero tolerance, the NCC reviewed and updated all of its contamination prevention educational materials in 2004. That included a “Prevent Lint Contamination” brochure that was mailed to all U.S. gins, warehouses and certified interest organizations and placed on the NCC’s web site along with the other materials. The “Prevent Lint Contamination” PowerPoint presentation replaced the video and was distributed prior to the start of the 2004 harvest season.

In 2005, a Spanish version of the PowerPoint presentation is being developed and both versions will be placed on CD and distributed industry wide. A “Contamination Free” decal also was developed and is being distributed. NCC Member Service representatives and others are being trained on ways to use the presentations and materials.

Among other activities to be undertaken are: 1)  conducting analysis of cotton fabric contaminants of unknown origin through the use of an independent lab; and 2) supporting the development of lint contamination education modules for gin schools.

The need exists to develop and standardize simulated handling tests to more rapidly screen materials for determining worthiness for field testing. National Cotton Council packaging specialists are developing draft protocol proposals for predicting packaging performance related to floor abrasion, breakout damage, tear/snag resistance, wire-to-bagging shear, rupture propagation, vapor permeability, air flow resistance, moisture condensation and machine/materials interactions.

Progress has been made toward water vapor transfer characterization of bagging and work continues on evaluation of polyethylene test methods. As a result, a report provided to the Joint Cotton Industry Bale Packaging Committee in early 2005 reinforced that panel’s decision to maintain burlap as an acceptable packaging material and to recommend permeance guidelines for micro-perforated bags.

Work will continue in 2005-06 at finding methods to correlate new test methods with real world handling environments and testing them for repeatability. Packaging specifications also will be reviewed with the goal of removing any unnecessary regulatory burden for bagging manufacturers and the U.S. cotton industry.

Losses due to the reduced value of seed cotton in poorly-built or protected modules can range up to $500 per module. This project is aimed at providing guidance to module cover manufacturers, ginners and producers about the characteristics needed to protect seed cotton stored in modules.

Small scale seed cotton modules were built in the Brazos Valley and Southern High Plains to perform testing on module cover materials.

Researchers at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station have made significant progress on quantifying the potential for and the cost of water penetration into seed cotton modules. For example, studies at six Texas gins’ module storage yards found that 50 percent of modules allowed water to collect on top due to an area of depression. The combination of a high probability of poor module shape and the potential loss of lint quality clearly point out the need for improvements in module formation and in the covers placed over those modules. Another finding has been that covers’ ability to maintain moisture penetration resistance deteriorates rapidly after prolonged exposure to sunlight and weathering.

Ultimate project goals are: 1) developing a recommendation for minimum module cover performance and suggested methods for evaluating the anticipated performance of covers; 2) publishing a document to educate ginners on the potential impact of module cover quality and a tool to evaluate the moisture resistance of existing covers; 3) refining and commercializing an operator feedback system that will improve the formation of well-shaped modules and minimize the potential for ponding of water on the cover; and 4) evaluating a prototype system for moving seed cotton mass to the center line of the module.

After the NCC broadened its membership base to include virtually the entire cottonseed industry, including the whole seed sector, there is the need to ascertain those members’ technical, research and regulatory priorities.

Through this project, those cottonseed sector members will be surveyed, a workshop conducted and a listing of technical issues published for in-house planning and action.