ABSTRACT

he USDA Cotton Program has initiated improvements in its cotton quality measurement processes to provide better services to its domestic and international customers and to gain their confidence that the quality measurements provided are accurate, reliable, and unbiased. These initiatives include more reviews of the classing office during the classing season by managers in the Program, additional leaf grade studies to respond to customer concerns, increased percentage of cotton classing office samples retested in Quality Assurance, additional automation of the Quality Assurance laboratory, increased focus on safety issues, and development of a strategic five-year plan for the Program. All of these initiatives have resulted in more uniform application of cotton classing procedures among all the offices, improved classification results, opportunities to improve efficiencies and reduce costs, reduction in injuries, and more forward planning for the future of the Cotton Program.