Fiber quality is of increasing importance in marketing cotton and choosing varieties. Because the domestic textile industry has shrunk, more U.S. cotton is being exported for use by overseas mills that generally demand higher quality cotton. Cotton fiber quality is a concern in every year, particularly high or low microanire. While premiums are small, discounts for high or low micronaire and other factors can be significant. Variety selection plays the largest role in fiber properties and is increasingly important for U.S. cotton to maintain and increase share in the world market.

Fiber parameters reported were determined using the same High Volume Instrumentation (HVI) classing system used in a USDA classing office. The physical properties (staple length, reported as the upper half mean or UHM; fiber strength; uniformity index; and micronaire) are reported. Color grades can be influenced by defoliation and moduling of seedcotton and are not reported in these data.

For some state trials, loan values have been calculated using only the physical fiber properties of micronaire, staple length (reported as the upper half mean, or UHM), fiber strength and uniformity. Because of the influence of defoliation, moduling and ginning sequence on color and trash, all samples are assumed to be a base color and leaf grade when calculating loan values. From the loan value and yield of each plot, a gross value per acre has also been calculated and reported in the tables.

In other cotton variety trials where plots are moduled a commercial ginning process is normally used. In these cases, fiber properties and calculated loan values will reflect leaf and trash grades.

These data should indicate the relative influence of quality on gross value among varieties. Individual experience may differ because of the influence of management and ginning of seedcotton. As with all variety trial data, the relative differences or similarities among varieties should be considered when using the loan value and gross value per acre data.