Variety selection is one of the first decisions a cotton producer makes each season, and perhaps the single most important. Results from this research are intended to be an aid in making this crucial decision. Certain data will also be of interest to ginners, millers, and other sectors of the cotton industry. The varieties reported here were submitted by the cottonseed companies.

All varieties, regardless of transgenes present, were evaluated in these tests under standard management practices, including chemical control of insects with conventional insecticides. The potential advantage of transgenes is not the subject of these tests and was not evaluated.

Varieties submitted for testing were divided into two groups based on maturity as determined by the company submitting each variety. The Early Maturing Cotton Variety Test was comprised of 43 varieties in the Delta and 38 in the Hill area of Mississippi. The Mid-maturity Cotton Variety Test was comprised of 22 varieties in the Delta and 22 varieties in the Hills. PhytoGen PSC 355, Stoneville ST 474, and Sure-Grow SG 747 were used as check varieties in tests with both maturity groups.

This year “Loan Value per Acre” and “Net Loan Price” figures are being presented in addition to the yield and fiber quality properties reported in the past. 2001 CCC loan values were used to calculate the “Net Loan Price” (NLP) based on the fiber properties and color grade. “Loan Value Per Acre” was calculated by multiplying the NLP by the Lint Yield. This value gives one figure that incorporates both yield and fiber quality.