The cotton industry has seen significant changes in its marketing and classing system in recent years. These changes have not been without considerable industry discussion and debate. The process, once started, has moved rapidly as the industry has identified desirable quality parameters, worked diligently for accurate measurement systems, developed new seed varieties for improved characteristics, and we as ginners have employed the technology and processing practices that will ensure the delivery of the best possible product to our customer. Have we finally reached our goal in these efforts? The answer, of course, is no. There is still plenty of work to do, and that will require maintaining open lines of communication.

The title of our panel discussion is Improving Textile Communications. This is a very important topic, and it has been the subject of several ginners conference presentations in past years. Even last year, there were papers that covered experiences with custom ginning as well as an industry discussion on experiences with the module averaging pilot program.

Coupled with those earlier discussions, today's presentations will examine other ways our industry can better communicate with one another. While our panelists represent a wide range of expertise and experience, all are recognized leaders in cotton quality research.

First, we will get a glimpse of future cotton quality parameters and how they will be measured. We will then receive the textile industry's perspective on module averaging and how it can utilized at their facilities. One of our industry's immediate concerns, the separation of color and trash with the '93 crop, will be also be explained. And finally, a representative from our gin research community will discuss how this grade separation will affect the ginning industry.

Communication is important and that's why this conference has provided open dialogue on many of the quality issues that affect ginners and our textile customers. Good communication will help our industry to come closer to meeting that goal of producing and delivering the best possible product.