Analyzing the Current Returns and Potential Market by Harvesting Method for West Texas Cotton

Recent years have seen the introduction of longer staple varieties that are now commonly grown in West Texas.  These varieties have the genetic potential to achieve substantially higher returns available from high-value market segments, especially for ring spinning applications; however, to accomplish this, the cotton produced will need to meet a number of specifications including those for staple length, strength, micronaire and short fiber content.  Furthermore, to achieve an acceptable quality level in ring spinning additional fiber properties such as fiber maturity, neps, and bark contaminations have to be reduced. In addition, for this production to earn this kind of return it will need to be consistently produced in sufficient volume to gain a strong reputation and market presence.  While these are substantial obstacles, they can potentially be addressed and are of current interest within the industry.

This paper uses data produced by the project cooperators as well as data in the public domain to design and evaluate a system aimed at achieving higher-value quality by:

1. Evaluating the impact of harvesting methods on returns;
2. Determining the needed ginning requirements for high-value market segments;
3. Estimating the potential increases in revenues and costs to the Texas cotton production and marketing sectors that would result from reaching higher-value market segments.

There is currently ongoing interest within the industry in achieving these outcomes.  Success in achieving these objectives would inform producers’ judgment and help the cotton industry respond to the felt need to achieve improved pricing for superior West Texas cotton.