Ginning and Compression video
U.S. cotton bales do not represent a phytosanitary risk that requires remediation through fumigation. Viewers of the video should recognize that it is impossible to repeat the referenced scientific experiments because the re-introduction of live weevils (or pink bollworms) into pest free areas is illegal.
The thoroughly documented research summarized by Ed Hughs in the video was a critical ingredient in the decision-making process that assured producers and the federal government that their investment in boll weevil and pink bollworm eradication programs would not be jeopardized if untreated densely-packed cotton bales were allowed to move into and through pest free areas. Well documented research has convinced regulators, producers and others that densely-packed cotton bales should not treated as regulated articles when quarantines regulations are established.
This unrestricted movement of densely-packed cotton bales was only possible because pink bollworm quarantine regulations do not classify cotton bales “… compressed to a density of at least 22 pounds per cubic foot”… as regulated articles. Cotton growers, ginners and their associates in pest free zones are convinced that well wrapped, densely-packed cotton bales are not means for infestations or re-infestations of these pests in their area. In the 50-plus years of USDA APHIS PPQ cotton pest quarantines millions of densely-packed cotton bales have moved into, through and out of pest-free areas without a single documented occurrence of a re-infestation.
The National Cotton Council thanks the following individuals for their participation in this video:
Introduction: Dr. Frank Carter – Retired, NCC Senior Scientist Entomology
Research Review: Ed Hughs – Director Southwest Cotton Ginning Lab, Mesilla Park, NM
Summation: Bill Grefenstette – U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine Cotton Pest Programs
The National Cotton Council acknowledges the work of the following organizations and people for their support of eradication efforts:
The National Cotton Council Boll Weevil Action Committee
The National Cotton Council Pink Bollworm Action Committee
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Richard Byler, Agricultural Engineer/Research Leader, Stoneville Cotton Ginning Research Unit, Stoneville, MS
Roy Baker and Allen Brashears, Retired, Cotton Production and Processing Research, Lubbock, TX
Thomas Sappington, Research Entomologist, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
A special acknowledgment goes to local, state and regional eradication foundations, cotton growers, ginners and others to numerous to mention who have financed and supported cotton pest eradication programs.