The continued consolidation trend in the ginning segment of the U. S. cotton industry has generated interest in determining how far the trend will continue. Several research studies have been initiated in recent years to examine this trend and the associated impact on cotton production in at least one region of the production belt. This study takes recent USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) Cotton Ginnings reports, both annual and bi-weekly, and attempts to calculate meaningful ginning rate throughputs by state and area. This basic study attempts to establish some meaningful baselines on current industry capacity that might prove a useful tool for those involved in more in detailed industry utilization projects.