In order to meet the needs of the textile industry for a high quality cotton fiber and to maximize income, farmers must utilize available technology effectively. Technology coupled with a new cotton classification system will encourage producers and ginners to improve the quality of fiber which they deliver to textile mills by (a) planting smooth-leaf varieties which yield less trash in the ginned lint, (b) managing weed and insect infestations with emphasis on fiber quality and yield, (c) expertly managing defoliation, (d) harvesting to minimize trash content and avoid high moistures, (e) managing seed cotton storage to avoid fiber degradation, (f) ginning at fiber moistures above 6 percent, and (g) processing through normal seed cotton cleaning machine but using only one lint cleaner. By working together from genetic selection through production, ginning, marketing, and textile processing, each segment can contribute toward producing a good bale of cotton that has reduced levels of unfavorable characteristics associated with cotton.