The 21st EFS® System Conference
"Sustaining Cotton's Profitability"
 The 21st Annual EFS System Conference is scheduled for June 10-11, 2008, in Memphis, Tenn., at The Peabody Hotel. The conference is held in Memphis every third year to coincide with the Triennial USDA Universal Cotton Standards Conference. This year is the 28th Triennial USDA Universal Cotton Standards Conference. The theme for this year’s EFS System Conference is “Sustaining Cotton’s Profitability.” Sessions will start after lunch on Tuesday and end with lunch on Wednesday.
This conference will aim for a broader representation of the efforts being made currently and future efforts being planned to make cotton a competitive fiber. Topics such as today’s economic environment, product technology, EFS System software around the world, sustainability, trends in cotton production and ginning, classing updates, improving cotton flow with the EFS System, and quality measurements for the future will be discussed at this year’s conference. These topics have been chosen with the idea of presentations about cotton that start in the production stage and go all the way to the consumer. Cotton Incorporated’s Agricultural Research Department will be presenting topics related to the production side of the cotton industry. They will discuss new cotton varieties, better production technologies and the latest harvesting technologies. A topic not previously discussed at an EFS System Conference is the world of
standards. The purpose of standards is to create a universal classification system for measuring cotton fiber and product quality. This topic includes how standards impact the cotton business and the new technology possibilities for measuring cotton fiber quality. The updates on classing include the classing report, a presentation about the China Fiber Inspection Bureau (CFIB), the Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton (CSITC) Report and the outlook of the cotton program. In the way of specific EFS® topics, there will be a presentation on how MERCHANTNet™ software can improve cotton flow by efficiently moving cotton from where it is to where it needs to be. The new MILLNet™ 4.0 for Windows ® software will be discussed as well. Finally, the economic environment for cotton will be discussed. This will include things to look for in the next year and the way Cotton Incorporated intends to make an impact on the economic environment for cotton worldwide.
This year there also will be presentations from two of Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton Fellows. The Cotton Incorporated Cotton Fellows Program (CIF) was created in 2002 by Dr. Roy Cantrell, formerly the Vice President, Agricultural Research at Cotton Incorporated. Because Cantrell saw that most cotton breeders were getting close to retirement age, he created this program to place young cotton breeders into this industry. The program funds nine fellowships at seven universities. Students who are selected to be cotton fellows are doctoral and postdoctoral researchers working on germplasm improvement, fiber quality and stability, and DNA marker development and application. We look forward to seeing you at this year’s EFS® System Conference. If you did not receive an invitation or would like more information about the conference, please contact Susan Foote, Associate Director, Cotton Management Software Services, at 919-678-2344, or by e-mail at SFoote@cottoninc.com.
Product Evaluation Laboratory: Calibration Cottons for the USDA Fiber Competition’s Product Evaluation Lab (PEL) participates
in a study each year to help determine the standard values of the Universal High Volume Instrument Calibration Cottons used worldwide for calibrating high volume instruments. PEL is one of six labs that do this testing and is the only lab participating in this study that is not a USDA classing office.
The USTER® high volume instrument (HVI™) must go through a qualification process before the USDA will approve the instrument for use in establishing values for calibration cottons.
To qualify for participation
in this program, the high volume instrument
must successfully complete an 8x8 evaluation
and a 2x60 evaluation
for length, strength and length uniformity. The 8x8 evaluation consists of eight cottons tested eight times, and the 2x60 evaluation consists of two cottons tested 60 times. In addition to these samples, there are six cottons specific for color, six specific for micronaire and six specific for trash. The USDA uses this data to see if the high volume instrument qualifies. Bales used to create standards for instrument calibration must be highly uniform. Any bales that do not meet these guidelines
are eliminated. The bales that pass the initial screening are then analyzed in detail to determine whether they can be used as calibration cottons. A total of 220 tests are performed on each bale to determine the uniformity and values assigned to calibration cottons. Before running the 220 tests, 20 samples are tested that represent two reference cottons previously
determined to be calibration
cottons. These reference samples are tested again after completing the set of 220. The 220 tests take place over a period of several weeks depending on the amount of calibration standards the USDA estimates is needed. Last year, the program lasted 16 weeks. The tests run consecutively twice a week with no breaks. If the person who is running the tests is absent, another person must fill in for them. A bale must meet the criteria for all 220 tests to be used as calibration cotton, or it is rejected. The USDA analyzes all data from the participating labs. If all testing criteria are met, the bale is accepted, and its contents are packaged for distribution as calibration cotton. This quarter, PEL tested five sets for a total of 2,200 samples. PEL participates in this process every year. It is one of the most important activities in which PEL staff participate. In addition
to providing this critical
information for future calibration cottons, the lab benefits from this work by being able to compare their performance to that of the USDA classing offices. PEL does not class cotton, but does test over 40,000 samples each year, which include samples that are a part of the breeder programs. Anyone who submits samples to PEL for testing should have greater confidence
in a lab with a high volume instrument and staff who pass USDA requirements for providing data for calibration cottons.
Get Your MILLNet 4.0 for Windows® Software Upgrade
Enjoy the flexibility of a Windows
® interface and a multitude of new features with the new MILLNet 4.0 for Windows® software.
The MILLNet 4.0 for Windows
program is now running in one domestic mill and four mills in China. The upgrade is free for current users of the MILLNet DOS software. In addition, you can schedule a one-on-one MILLNet 4.0 upgrade consultation with a field service representative for a personalized demonstration of the new software. These consultations
will be at The Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tenn., on the afternoon of June 9 and the morning
of June 10. During your consultation,
you can discuss what is needed for the upgrade. You can also schedule a tentative time to do the upgrade at your site. 
To schedule your installation
or consultation, please contact Susan Foote, Associate Director, Cotton Management
Software Services, at 919-678-2344, or by e-mail at SFoote@cottoninc.com.
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