A perception exists that year of seed origin can influence performance of cotton seed. Seed company perceptions have been that the vigor index is a good predictor of field performance, and that quality is mostly related to conditions encountered during production, processing, and storage. The objective of this study was to evaluate some of the effects seed age has on the field performance. Four seed lots of Deltapine NuCOTN 33 B were chosen for the study: production from 1999, 1998, 1997, and a blended seed lot. These lots did not have the same vigor index, but represented a range in quality from the very highest, to those marginally acceptable for commercial release. These four seed lots were planted in replicated field trials in four states with a total of five locations (AZ, GA, two locations in MS, SC) in 2000 to evaluate the relationship of field performance and seed production year of origin. Stand counts, plant development (plant height, node count, NAWF), and yield data were collected. The four lots averaged 178, 173, 148, and 155 seed vigor index for 1999, 1998, 1997, and blended, respectively. In the first year of the study, only one planting date was chosen, and planting and emergence conditions were very favorable. In this first year of the study, there was a significant difference for final stand count among the seed lots in relation to the vigor index (1999 > 1998 > 1997 = blended). In this study, plant development through the season was equivalent for all seed lots at all locations indicating established plants in the field grew according to field conditions and not according to differences in seed vigor index. Plant stands were adequate to produce equivalent yields for all seed lots (1115, 1134, 1129, and 1129 for 1999, 1998, 1997, and blended lots, respectively).