Norma McDill, Deputy Administrator for USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, says that in addition to realizing record yields in most areas of the U.S. Cotton Belt last season, farmers also realized a goal of improved quality – in a big way.
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McDill says the quality level of theU.S.crop is the highest of any on record.
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McDill says the Southeast region made a particularly strong rebound from a poor showing in 2002, and the higher the quality the easier the classing job for USDA.
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The higher quality offers greater export opportunities and will help meet the projection of 12 million U.S. bales going into the international market in the year ahead.
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Another improved service is on the way for cotton’s customers, McDill says. USDA is advancing on a goal of converting to high volume instrumentation to measure leaf grade.
