An analysis of an alternative marketing system for cotton involving delayed ginning through various storage techniques
Authors:   , Metcalf Virgil Alonzo 
Published: May 2024

For technical reasons, cotton gins normally operate at constant rates, and vary hours of operation to accommodate available volume. In this sense, time becomes an input and, in the case of cotton gins, a cost reducing input as the proportions of fixed to variable costs is extremely high. Lengthening the ginning season through storage prior to ginning would provide an opportunity to lower ginning costs. The paramount question, then, becomes one involving the effects of storage on the quality of the lint and/or seed. Varying opinions are held by authorities on the feasibility of storing seed cotton in the delta region of Missouri. The objectives of this inquiry were to determine (1) the effects of prolonged seed cotton storage on cotton grade and staple measurements, (2) the effects of prolonged seed cotton storage on the measurable fiber quality characteristics, (3) the effects of prolonged seed cotton storage on mill performance of the cotton lint, (4) the effects on the cash price of cotton due to prolonged storage, (5) the effects of different types of storage facilities on fiber quality, and (6) the relative costs of different types of storage facilities. Cotton was stored during the marketing years 1961 and 1962 by various methods. The cotton was stored for 120 days and sampled and tested each 30 days of storage. The samples, after ginning, were classed, fiber tested and spun in mill tests. The technique was to compare the results of the tests made each 30 days with the results of the tests made from the same cotton prior to storage. Cotton stored for 120 days performed as well, or better, at the mill as did cotton ginned immediately after harvest and even though slight variations in grade and staple length occurred causing some variations in the value of cotton during storage, these variations were not justifiable on the basis of decreased quality. This indicates that the differences found in grade and staple were not real but associated or that the present grading system may be antiquated as it does not reflect mill performance. The other fiber qualities which varied significantly were strength, elongation, upper half mean length, mean length, uniformity ratio and the content of large and small trash. No patterns were present and variations by length of storage were not consistent for both years. The total foreign matter and moisture content of the seeds from stored cotton varied significantly. However, variations were erratic and not easily explainable or traceable to storage. The grade of the seed varied but not significantly. Seed from cotton stored for 120 days in 1962 was valued at approximately the same as at harvest time. The free fatty acid, ammonia, lint on seed and oil content did not vary significantly and variations were erratic. After 120 days of storage, all cotton was valued at about the same value as prior to storage. However, changes in market value of the lint did occur during the storage period for both years. Gains in value during the storage period amounted to $1.15 per bale in 1961 and losses amounted to $3.00 per bale in 1962. Implications are, that over time, no costs or value deterioration must be accounted for due to loss of value of cotton stored prior to ginning. Moisture content of cotton stored ranged as high as 18 percent. Fiber strength was the only cotton fiber quality factor and seed germination was the only seed quality factor which varied significantly by length of storage period that could be correlated with moisture content. No changes were differentiated in fiber quality or seed quality by type of storage.