Decision Support Software Update: Transporting Seed Cotton From the Field to Gin

The number of cotton gins in the state of Texas has declined from over 1400 gins in 1960 to less than 232 gins in 2011. Texas has experienced an increase in cotton production since that time, and now remains relatively constant at 5.5 million bales ginned annually. A Decision Support Software package was produced and published for cotton ginners to determine the economic risks and benefits of transporting seed cotton modules from the field to the gin. Using gin data from USDA ARS and Texas Cotton Ginner’s Association from 2005-2010, the software package has aided many in the cotton industry to determine the limits of economic viability of seed cotton transport in remote areas where long distance module hauling was imminent.  The increasing production of seed cotton along with the decreasing number of cotton gins in Texas justifies the need for an updated software package with the goal of more efficient cotton handling and ginning systems. Specifically, fewer gins and increased production will likely result in transporting seed cotton longer distances. Using reported gin data from 2011 USDA ARS and TCGA surveys, the previous transportation model produced in 2008 is being updated to reflect current economic conditions.