The use of crop monitoring and plant mapping has received a considerable amount of attention in the cotton production arena in recent years. Veteran cotton farmers and agronomists are well aware of the fact that any of them that have been successful have, by necessity, become expert in cotton crop monitoring. This type of crop monitoring is largely dependant upon experience and intuition, which can vary considerably among individuals. It is at least this authors opinion that there will never be a means by which the experience and skill of the farmer or crop manager is completely replaced by a new "systematic" approach. However, one of the important differences that is being brought about with this more recent interest and approach to crop monitoring is that cotton crop growth is being described in a more quantitative manner, which gives us a common set of standards to go by. Having a full set of standards to refer to, can then serve to assist even the most experienced of growers in reviewing crop conditions and making in-season management decisions.