If cotton is to remain a major crop in the Midsouth, it is going to have to become more competitive with synthetics and foreign imports. To be more competitive cotton needs to be of better quality than that which we are currently producing. The quality demands are changing to include fiber strength, length uniformity, low short fiber content, low micronaire but mature fiber, and less trash, neps, and seed coat fragments in addition to the traditional ones of grade and staple. My objective is to briefly review the current status of agronomic and genetic research on fiber quality in the Midsouth. Reference will be made to the traditional fiber properties and wherever data are available to the newly desired fiber properties.