The USDA Cotton Program is embarking on a revolutionary concept in the area of High Volume Instrument (HVI) cotton classification with the inception of a new Automatic Classing System (ACS). The system’s manufacturer, Zellweger Uster, is also the sole source for the Cotton Program’s 240 other HVI stations currently used in its twelve classing facilities and the Quality Assurance Section. The ACS, located in the Memphis, TN Classing Office, includes ten HVI stations, six loading stations, one system controller, one unloading station, peripheral equipment, and is interconnected by an integrated conveyor system that moves the cotton through the system automatically. The ACS utilizes new technology to grade cotton samples via HVI without the need for human intervention. The system is presently undergoing extensive precision, accuracy and volume evaluations to satisfy strict USDA requirements before being declared production-ready. Once cleared for production, the system is expected to meet industry needs through improvements in reliability, accuracy and labor savings.