Adding Value to Commodities

To stay competitive, US farming must adopt a model to cooperatively produce products with improved consumer-driven attributes.  Supply chains must rely on vertical integration and coordination techniques of production, marketing and/or processing to deliver products with characteristics that meet specific end user needs.  A detailed analysis is given of the role of fiber properties in enhancing value of textile products.  Specific applications of these concepts are discussed relative to a recent study carried out to assess the impact of the new John Deere harvesting (Pinnacle^®) system.