The incidence of bark is a costly problem to the cotton producer who receives this penalty attached to the grade of his bale of cotton. Webster defines bark as the tough external covering of a woody stem. Webster also says that to bark is to make a short, loud, explosive noise. To solicit patronage by crying out its merits at the entrance.

Through the past number of years, it has been the goal and effort of the BARKY COTTON RESEARCH TASK FORCE to reduce and/or remove the penalty of bark. Our research has involved breeding, aeronomical, cultural, harvest aid chemical, harvest techniques, and last but not least, we are grateful to be able to share with you some of the interesting results we have found in textile research.

With the market share of COTTON continuing to grow, enjoying 55% of the retail market through the first nine months of 1991, total fiber used retail in excess of 15 million bales or 7.9 million bales of cotton, and with 100% cotton denim accounting for 14% or over 1 million bales of cotton, and with a large number of barky bales being used in the denim market, it would almost seem barky bales would be going at a premium.

We hope the information we share with you today will be a loud, reassuring noise that BARKY BALES do have utility value, and we may solicit your continued patronage because of efforts in research.