The continued expansion of instrument based cotton classification on a global scale brings many challenges to the international cotton industry. The challenges of international standardization must be met in order to create a seamless instrumentation system that will facilitate international marketing and optimize fiber utilization by the textile industry. The USDA, AMS, Cotton Program is pursuing these challenges through the Universal Cotton Standards Agreement, ICAC's Expert Panel on Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton (CSITC) and through the internationally recognized standardization body of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International. This report focuses on the efforts through the Universal Cotton Standards Agreement.

The 27th Universal Cotton Standards Conference was held on June 8-10, 2005 in Memphis, Tennessee. Universal standardization of cotton classification measurements is more important than ever given the growing interest of the international cotton industry to adopt the USDA model for instrument based cotton classification. As a result, the international and domestic delegates of the conference overwhelmingly adopted Rd and +b cotton color standards as Universal Standards. Now measurements for all USDA classification measurements, except for percent area of trash, are referenced to Universal Standards. A proposal for the implementation of a bark/grass classification guide was voted down at the conference. However, USDA pledged to continue efforts to develop a suitable guide. For the 2005 classing season, USDA is evaluating digital image guides and cotton guides for bark/grass within its twelve classing offices and Quality Assurance Branch.