• Quality Summary of 1999 and 1998 USA Upland Crops

• Averages for Selected Fiber Properties by Classing Office

• Distributions of Fiber Properties

• Varieties Planted in 1999

• USDA Cotton Classing Offices 1999

The tables and graphs on the following pages give a summary of the quality of the 1999 USA upland cotton crop.  These data were obtained from the weekly reports issued by the USDA (United States Quality of Cotton Classed under Smith-Doxey Act-- Agricultural Marketing Service, Cotton Division, United States Department of Agriculture, Memphis, Tennessee).

The upper portion of each chart lists, by classing office, the percentage of bales that were placed in various grades by the classers.  The "White Grades" section has three columns that give the percentages of bales placed into grades 11, 21, or 31 (MID+), 41 (SLM), and grades 51, 61, or 71 (LM-).  The "TOTal" column gives the total percentage of bales classified as "white" at each classing office.  The "Light Spotted Grades" section gives percentages of bales classified into groups 12, 22, or 32 (MID+), 42 (SLM), and 52 or 62 (LM-).  The "TOTal" column gives the total percentage of bales classified as "Light Spotted" at each classing office.  The "Other Grades" column includes all bales at each classing office that were classed as "Spotted", "Tinged", "Yellow Stained", or "Below Grade".  The "% Barky Grades" column lists the percentage of bales from each classing office containing bark.

In 1993, the classer grading system was changed.  Under the old system of grading, the classer determined a composite grade of color and trash content; and bales that contained bark and grass were reduced one or more grade levels.  Under this system, the classer determines a color grade, a leaf (trash) grade and notes whether there is bark or grass present in the bale without any reduction in grade. Each color grade percentage will include all levels of leaf.  For example, the 56.9% of the bales classed in Florence, SC in 1999 with SLM white color grade includes all bales at all leaf levels (2-7 leaf) with SLM white color.

The lower portion of the chart lists average physical properties at each classing office.  Micronaire (MIC), length (LEN), length uniformity index (LUI), strength (STR) and TRASH are measurements taken by the High Volume Instruments (HVI).  The TRASH measurement is an estimate of the percent of the surface of the sample covered by the trash.  The maturity ratio and fineness data are derived from random samples submitted each week by classing office and tested using the Shirley Fineness and Maturity Tester (FMT).  

The charts that follow (pg. 6 - 7) give a visual picture of the averages by classing office, for micronaire, strength, length and length uniformity index.  Distributions (pg. 8 -10) of the US crop for micronaire, strength, length, length uniformity index, and color grade follow the classing office charts.

For the 1999 season, there are 12 USDA cotton classing offices located throughout the cotton production regions of the USA.  The classing office previously located in Hayti, MO has been closed and the classing operations consolidated with offices in nearby regions.  This is part of a long-term plan by the USDA Cotton Programs to reduce the total number of cotton classing offices.