Development of systematic procedures for setting up and calibrating the High Volume Instrument (HVI) trashmeter have resulted in improved operation and performance. New setup and calibration procedures implemented in 1998 provide a level of diagnostic thoroughness and calibration precision that greatly exceeds previous methods. The success of the current trash measurement system is a result of steady progress that began with development of trash measurement standards and continued with emphasis on instrument setup and calibration. Overall Cotton Program HVI trashmeter reproducibility for the 1998 classing season exceeded the previous high record by four percentage points.