Grades of U.S. Cotton
Official Standards of the U.S.
| Color Grade |
Symbols |
Color
Grade Code |
Classer
Leaf Code |
| White |
|
|
|
| Good Middling |
GM |
11 |
1 |
| Strict Middling |
SM |
21 |
2 |
| Middling |
Mid |
31 |
3 |
| Strict Low Middling |
SLM |
41 |
4 |
| Low Middling |
LM |
51 |
5 |
| Strict Good Ordinary |
SGO |
61 |
6 |
| Good Ordinary |
GO |
71 |
7 |
| |
|
|
|
| Light Spotted |
|
|
|
| Good Middling |
GM Lt Sp |
12 |
|
| Strict Middling |
SM Lt Sp |
22 |
|
| Middling |
Mid Lt Sp |
32 |
|
| Strict Low Middling |
SLM Lt Sp |
42 |
|
| Low Middling |
LM Lt Sp |
52 |
|
| Strict Good Ordinary |
SGO Lt Sp |
62 |
|
| Color Grade |
Symbols |
Color
Grade Code |
|
| Spotted |
|
|
|
| Good Middling |
GM Sp |
13 |
|
| Strict Middling |
SM Sp |
23 |
|
| Middling |
Mid Sp |
33 |
|
| Strict Low Middling |
SLM Sp |
43 |
|
| Low Middling |
LM Sp |
53 |
|
| Strict Good Ordinary |
SGO Sp |
63 |
|
| |
|
|
| Tinged |
|
|
| Strict Middling |
SM Tg |
24 |
|
| Middling |
Mid Tg |
34 |
|
| Strict Low Middling |
SLM Tg |
44 |
|
| Low Middling |
LM Tg |
54 |
|
| |
|
|
| Yellow Stained |
|
|
| Strict Low Middling |
SM YS |
25 |
|
| Middling |
Mid YS |
35 |
|
Each bale receives a separate grade for color and for leaf (trash). Color grade is determined by High Volume Instrument, using the HVI Color Chart, and referenced to cotton standards that are in custody of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Light Spotted grades, Yellow Stained grades, or grade codes 13 and 24 have no physical standards. Leaf grades, identified by numbers 1 through 7, are represented by the amount of leaf trash in the White Grade standards. For example, a bale graded 31-4 has a Middling-White color grade and a leaf grade equivalent to the trash content of the Strict Low Middling White standard.
|
U. S. Cotton Fiber Chart
