USDA Cotton Classification Workshop

1. USDA Cotton Classification Workshop

2. USDA Workshop Team • Xiaoliang (Leon) Cui , Research Cotton Technologist, Cotton Structure and Quality Research • Gretchen Deatherage, Assistant Chief, Standardization & Engineering Branch (Standards) • Lee Gibson, Chief, Quality Assurance Branch • Steve Grantham, Assistant Chief, Standardization & Engineering Branch (Engineering) • James Knowlton, Chief, Standardization & Engineering Branch

3. Workshop Topics & Objectives • Mission areas of USDA Cotton Division • History of USDA cotton classification and standards • Legislative authority for USDA cotton standards and classification • USDA HVI cotton classification standards & HVI qualification materials • HVI measurements and calibration • HVI Qualification procedures • Cotton testing procedures

4. Workshop Topics & Objectives • Routine test verifications • Quality Assurance for multiple lab / instrument operations • Utilization of testing tolerances • HVI data management • Interpretation and use of USDA physical grade standards for manual grading • Round testing programs • General Discussion

5. Cotton Division Mission Areas • Provide unbiased cotton classification • Provide cotton classification standards based on international cotton industry direction • Facilitate the cotton industry’s transition from manual to instrument based cotton classification

6. Cotton Division Locations • Washington Headquarters • Memphis Field Headquarters / Classing Office • Classing Facilities

7. USDA Cotton Classification & Cotton Standardization Programs: • Classification Program: • Provides cotton classification on each and every bale of cotton produced in the U.S. • Standardization Program: • Develops, maintains and provides internationally accepted cotton classification standards to USDA cotton classification program & other cotton testers throughout the world.

8. USDA Cotton Classification History

9. 1908: Original Committee to Establish USDA Standards

10. 1909: First Standards Established by USDA

11. Early USDA Interest in Instrument Classification • Work Started in 1930’s • Colorimeter • Color Grades

12. Early USDA Interest in Instrument Classification Length Trash Strength Micronaire

13. Early USDA Implementation of Instrument Classification • 1970’s • Measurement Integration • Classing Office Evaluations

14. Early USDA Implementation of Instrument Classification • 1980 – First Full Scale USDA Classing Office Operation • Lamesa, Texas • 10 HVI’s

15. Since 1991 USDA has HVI Classed Practically Every Cotton Bale Produced in the U.S.

16. Magnitude of USDA HVI Classing Since 1991 • Average crop size of ~ 16 million bales • Over 320 million bales classed since 1991

17. Adoption of HVI Standards • 1995: HVI Calibration Cottons for Strength, Length and Uniformity Index & Laboratory Atmospheric Conditions

18. Adoption of HVI Standards • 2002: HVI Calibration Cottons for Micronaire and Standardized HVI Procedures

19. Adoption of HVI Standards • 2005: HVI Cotton Color Standards for Rd/+b

20. Uster HVI 1000

21. Uster HVI 1000 • 238 in USDA classing operations • Began using in 2004

22. USDA Cotton Classification System: • Every individual bale of cotton produced in U.S. is HVI classed by USDA. • All USDA cotton classification is based on the Universal Cotton Standards. • All USDA cotton classification is performed utilizing exactly the same procedures and standards in all USDA cotton classing locations. • HVI data is available from USDA on every bale produced in the U.S.

23. Legislative Authority for USDA Cotton Standards and Cotton Grading Functions • Cotton Standards Act • Universal Cotton Standards Agreement • Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act • Smith-Doxey Act • Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

24. Cotton Standards Act of 1923 • Authorized USDA • To establish cotton classification standards • To establish an agreement with international cotton associations for the adoption, use and observance of Universal Cotton Standards

25. Universal Cotton Standards Agreement of 1923 • Agreement between USDA, U.S. cotton industry and international cotton associations • Provides delegates with a voice in governing the Universal Cotton Standards

26. Universal Standards Adopted by: BangladeshKorea Bangladesh Textile Mills Association Spinners & Weavers Association of Korea BelgiumMalaysia Association Contonniére De Belgique Malaysia Textile Manufacturing Association BrazilMexico Bolsa de Mercadorias e FuturosCamara National de la IndustriaTextil BritainPeru Council of British Cotton Textiles ComiteTextil de la Sociedad National de Industria The Liverpool Cotton Association Ltd Philippines Egypt Textile Mills Association of the Philippines Alexandria Cotton Exporters Association Poland France Gdynia Cotton Association Association FrancaiseCotonniereSpain Germany Centro AlgodoneroNacional Bremer BaumwollbörseSwitzerland IndonesiaIndustrieverband Textile Indonesia Spinners Association Taiwan India Taiwan Cotton Spinners Association East India Cotton Association Ltd Thailand Italy Thai Textile Manufacturing Association AssociazioneCotonieraJapan Japan Cotton Arbitration Institute Japan Cotton Trade’s Association Japan Spinners Association

27. Cotton Statistics & Estimates Act of 1927 • Authorized USDA to collect and publish annual statistics of estimates of the grades and staple length on current crop and cotton carryover from previous crops.

28. Smith-Doxey Act of 1937 • Authorized USDA to provide free cotton classing and market news services to farmers

29. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 • Authorized USDA to begin charging fees to farmers for cotton classification services