A few weeks ago I received a telephone call from a USDA-ARS person asking if I would like to address this group and talk about how the spinning industry is using module/trailer, or lot averaged HVI data. At first I declined the request because I honestly didn't know how, or even if, they would be using this information. After more discussion, I realized that the request was based on the fact that someone should speak to the lot averaging issue from the spinners' side, since to date most of the commentary has come from USDA-AMS personnel. Well, here I am.

After talking about lot averaging with four of our larger company's cotton buyers, it became obvious that none were using lot averaging data, and that they had more questions than favorable comments about the lot averaging idea. Two of our larger company's research groups also had reservations. So, based on these six interviews, each with a key person in the spinning industry, I would like to share with you their questions and comments about lot averaging, rather than addressing the issue of how they use lot averaged HVI information, which remember, none do.

First, I'm sad to say, they wonder whether the AMS is more interested in their sustainment numbers than in fiber property values in a bale of cotton slated for the spinning industry. With this kind of suspicion you have to wonder if the credibility of lot averaging will ever be such that the spinning industry will be happy with it. It certainly indicates that USDA-AMS has got a lot of public relations work to do to overcome this seeming distrust.