The Texas-Oklahoma producer cotton markets exhibited a much wider range of quality in 1996/97 than in previous years. Overall, quality was generally high throughout the season. The amount of cotton available on the spot market increased significantly over the previous year while average producer prices fell below those observed in the same period. Quality premiums and discounts were less variable than those for 1995/96. With the exception of strength, price discounts increased for all quality attributes compared to those for the 1995/96 season. Premiums for leaf content and strength both increased.