Researchers at TexasA&MUniversity are evaluating the impact of a proposed coarse particulate National Ambient Air Quality Standard. It appears that proposal would define coarse particulate matter (PMc) concentrations at the difference between PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations. However, researchers already have documented errors associated with EPA’s approved Federal Reference Method PM10 and PM2.5 samplers – which could lead to error prone measurements of PMc.

The researchers are evaluating the errors associated with the PM10 and PM2.5 samplers to obtain PMc concentrations and developing a method to obtain accurate PMc concentration measurements. They will develop a white paper to clarify the implications of PMc as a property-line standard.

A goal of this project is to minimize seed cotton storage costs while processing 5 million bales with 200 or fewer gins. Texas A&M University researchers are formulating a minimum of three practical scenarios for a new seed cotton handling, storage and ginning system – and that may include extending the ginning season.

They also are formulating a feasible seed cotton transport system from the field to storage area that could be implemented at a Texas location with the gin service area expanded to 100 and 150 miles. This includes studying the use of semi-tractor trailers or other systems for moving seed cotton from the turn-row to long-term storage locations near a gin.

The new seed cotton handling, storage and gin management system will be developed following a general methodology that includes the following: 1) development of a database management system, 2) mapping of cotton production areas in the state, 3) determination of geographic location of cotton gins, 4) development of a transport routine tool and 5) preparation of simulations and strategies to optimize processing of harvested cotton.

This new project will address the urgent need to develop low cost technologies for efficient conversion of cotton gin trash into heat and power generation. – due to escalating fuel and energy prices.

The specific objectives of Texas A&M University engineers will be to:  1) illustrate the positive net energy balance from the conversion of gin trash into heat and power in a given gin; 2) develop a modular gasification system that could be retrofitted to specific gin sizes; and 3) evaluate the technical and economic feasibility for the differently-sized gins.

The goal of this new project is enabling cotton producers to make fiber quality maps and consider field input and other management practices with respect to fiber quality.

A Texas A&M University researcher is developing a practical and reliable methodology for using GPS to define the area from which a module was harvested. Then, a conceptual mechanism will be developed for integrating field-level GIS databases containing yield data, remote-sensing data and soil property data with bale sample/quality data. This would be done by using module location and bale-to-module relationships as the data bridge.

Funding will be used for making necessary enhancements at the “mini-gin” in the Pace Seed Technology Lab at Mississippi State University.

MSU’s Gin Management Technology students will take the lead in making the modifications to  the lint cleaning system and the feeding of seed cotton from the last cleaning machine to the extractor feeder. They will gain valuable hands-on training and experience by removing the existing lint cleaner and installing two lint cleaners so the gin will be similar to modern commercial gins.