Addressing Fiber Quality Concerns of Georgia Cotton

Summary

The UGA Cotton Team has aggressively addressed research and educational needs relative to fiber quality of cotton in Georgia.

Situation

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the fiber quality of Georgia cotton as compared to the overall U.S. Cotton Belt was second only to that grown in arid western states of Arizona and California. Cotton acreage in Georgia in the 1980s and early 1990s ranged from 110,000 to 400,000 acres each year. In the mid-1990s, because of the success of the Boll Weevil Eradication Program, favorable market prices over and above U.S. farm commodity programs, and the general suitability of the crop in the state after successful eradication of the boll weevil, cotton acreage in Georgia exploded to a modern-era high of 1.5 million acres. It has since fluctuated between 1.2 and 1.45 million acres. Over the past 9 years, the adoption of genetically engineered varieties with genes conferring pest management traits has revolutionized cotton production in Georgia. Transgenic varieties have been planted on over 90 percent of the acreage each year since 2000. Unfortunately, during these same years, Georgia has experienced a significant decline in reputation of the fiber quality of cotton produced in the state. Initial concerns were raised in 1998-99 by one major U.S. textile mill regarding the spinning efficiency (yarn output per hour) of cotton from Georgia. In 2003 several mills reported similar problems, and in 2004, at least four major U.S. mills publicly declared a bias against Georgia cotton. While the problem was not specifically identified, buyers ranked Georgia cotton as the least preferred in the U.S. Cotton Belt in 2003-04.

Response

UGA scientists have invested considerable resources towards the issue of cotton fiber quality. Some efforts are long term, others are more immediate. Several Cotton Team members have interacted with the Georgia Cotton Commission, Southeastern Ginners, Southern Cotton Growers, the USDA Cotton Quality Research Station at Clemson, Cotton Incorporated, and the National Cotton Council to consider the nature and scope of the problem and possible solutions. Long Term Research Micro-Gin. Several years ago, UGA scientists, recognized the disparity between commercial ginning and that employed in the process of handling research and demonstration samples. The commercial process is much more aggressive than small gins. Quality factors such as lint turnout, length uniformity, and staple (length) tend to be significantly over-estimated in miniature, table top ginning as compared to commercial processing. Scientists conceived the idea of a scaled down but fully equipped micro gin to employ commercial-like effects to small plot samples. This gin could more accurately measure the effects of experimental treatments such as cultivar, production management, pest control, fertility, etc., on fiber quality. Federal and state funds for the project were secured with considerable help from the Georgia Cotton Commission and others. The first cotton samples were run in the UGA Cotton Micro-Gin in the summer of 2004 and multiple experiments from the 2005 crop will be ginned at the facility. It is anticipated that this world class facility will be a valuable research tool for addressing current and future fiber quality issues across the Southeast. Cotton Breeding. In 2005, Peng Chee assumed responsibility for the field breeding program within with UGA. He continues with lines developed in the former programs of Shelby Baker and Lloyd May. Emphasis has shifted from the development of commercial cultivars towards that of releasing high yielding germplasm and nematode tolerant lines with superior fiber quality. He is working on the molecular side to determine markers specifically associated with nematode tolerance. Peng Chee has also worked to develop a line with high fiber quality that can be readily used in the process of gene insertion and whole plant regeneration. The current standard for the transformation process is a variety that dates back to the 1970s, and while it is ready source for gene insertion and plant regeneration, it has inherent negative agronomic and fiber properties. The lack of desirable fiber characteristics of the current system saddles transgenic offerings with significant challenges to overcome in the pursuit of fiber improvement, and thus there is great opportunity to improve quality with transgenic cultivars. On another front, exploration of the cotton genome through the efforts of Andy Paterson in Athens expands the possibilities for future advancements of cotton genetics as it relates to both yield and quality. Applied Field Research Pest management. Stanley Culpepper has investigated the potential effects of aggressive or rescue applications of glyphosate in Roundup Ready cotton. Their research shows no influence on fiber quality even when yields were reduced by glyphosate. Phillip Roberts has extensively explored the management of stink bugs and has demonstrated a strong correlation between not only stink bug control and yield but also bug damage and fiber quality. This research provides strong evidence that some of the problems associated with the quality of the 2003 crop are directly linked to stink bug problems. Field experiments also link nematode damage with reduced fiber quality and point to the need to develop nematode tolerant lines and better nematode management tools. Bob Kemerait is aggressively evaluating new technologies related to nematode control. Cultural practices. Because of high technology and seed costs associated with transgenic varieties, growers have incentive to plant reduced seeding rates. Physiologists at UGA have explored the relationship of low stand density and fiber quality, and while there was a slight effect on micronaire (fiber density), overall minimal stands had little to no impact on overall fiber parameters. The work has also demonstrated the importance of timely defoliation and harvest. In studies that have been widely sited, he determined that delaying defoliation past the appropriate time of 60 to 80 percent open boll reduced yields about 10 percent and income up to $30 per acre per week. Much of the reduction in income results from losses in quality. Bednarz is also actively investigating the effects of irrigation on fiber quality. The Cotton Team has identified additional researchable topics that might influence fiber properties. Glen Harris has conducted detailed studies in 2005 and 2006 exploring the effects of fertility programs on lint quality. For these and other such experiments, the UGA Micro-Gin will be a valuable tool in such investigations. Educational Efforts The quality issue has been gaining momentum in recent years. In winter production meetings in 2005 and 2006, the UGA Cotton Team discussed the quality issue from numerous angles. Team members provided comments on the issue in field days, radio and television interviews, farm publication articles, and farm press interviews. The Team has developed specific strategies for improving quality. These include variety selection, stink bug management, timely defoliation and harvest, and proper ginning. The Team has also suggested an early management system to address the challenge of conflicts between peanut and cotton harvest. The Georgia Cotton Newsletter, a monthly publication posted on the UGA Cotton Web Page, included several articles pertinent to quality: March 2005 - “Reflections on the Quality of the 2004 Crop,” by S. Brown; “Why Should I Worry about Fiber Quality,” by P. Jost and “What a Selection of Varieties,” by P. Jost. April 2005 - “Early Management Systems for Harvesting Cotton before Digging Peanuts,” by S. Brown. June 2005 - “Georgia Quality Cotton Award,” by P. Jost. August 2005 - “Crop Situation and Late Season Concerns,” by P. Jost. September 2005 - “Personal Estimates of the 2005 Crop,” by S. Brown; “Timely Harvest Maximizes Profit,” by S. Brown; “Georgia Quality Cotton Award,” by P. Jost. October 2005 - “Crop Situation / Harvest Progress,” by S. Brown; “Some Additional Thoughts on the 2005 Crop - Post Tammy,” by P. Jost; “Georgia Quality Cotton Award,” by P. Jost. February 2006 - “Georgia Quality Cotton Award,” by P. Jost; March 2006 “Georgia Quality Cotton Award Results,” by P. Jost; August 2006 “Georgia Quality Cotton Award,” by P. Jost; September 2006 “Fiber Quality Premiums and Discounts,” by D. Shurley, P. Jost, and S. Brown. The UGA Cotton Web Page continues to be a source of information delivery; as of November 2006, the site had received almost 41,000 “hits.” Craig Bednarz, Steve Brown, and Phillip Roberts were invited to Cotton Incorporated's Engineered Fiber Systems Conference in Memphis, TN, June 5-7, 2005, to address fiber quality. Bednarz and Roberts reported experimental data on crop and pest management pertinent to the quality issue, and Brown made overall comments on the situation in a panel which addressed “the Georgia Quality Problem.” The conference included an international audience of several hundred persons. Team members, led by Phil Jost, have worked with Bayer Crop Science, the Georgia Cotton Commission, and others regarding the establishment of the Georgia Quality Award. The program, which received a $50,000 grant for support, recognizes growers and their respective ginners for producing outstanding quality. The initial program honored 12 growers and their respective ginners and county agents in Atlanta in March 2006 and will be continued through 2007. Through a special internal grant, the Team developed a survey which assessed the knowledge of growers, ginners, and county agents on the issue of fiber quality. The survey served not only as an evaluative tool but also as another vehicle for educating clientele about fiber quality.

Impact

Problem Identification. The collective effort of partners such as the Georgia Cotton Commission, its professional textile consultant, the USDA Cotton Quality Research Station in Clemson, Cotton Incorporated, and the UGA Cotton Team determined that increased short fiber content is the probable source of reduced spinning efficiency associated with cotton from Georgia. As defined by the industry, short fibers are those below 0.5 inches in length. Typically, cotton samples from the MidSouth contain 6 to 10 percent short fibers, while cotton bales from Georgia may be 8 to 18 percent short fiber. Short fiber content is not directly measured by the current USDA Fiber Quality Classing system but is indirectly reflected in the parameter termed Length Uniformity Index. Georgia cotton typically averages a full point below cotton produced in the MidSouth. The message has been delivered to producers and others through a variety of media and means. Georgia producers and ginners are now well aware that quality is an issue of intense importance. Increased awareness of the role of stink bug management in the fiber quality issue. Research and demonstration efforts have identified the effects of stink bug injury on almost every measure of fiber quality. Growers in 2004 and 2005 were much more aggressive in controlling stinkbugs than in previous years, and field assessments indicate considerably less damage in than in 2003.. Overall quality of the 2004 crop and 2005 crop (early reports) is superior to that of the 2003 crop. The 2006 has been overwhelmed by drought and heat and there are the concurrent problems with high micronaire and short staple. Increased awareness of the importance of timely defoliation and harvest. As the harvest seasons of 2004 and 2005 approached, a change of attitude was evident among growers. Many prepared to get the crop out as early and quickly as possible. In spite of the onslaught of four tropical storms in 2004, some successfully did so. The quality of the crop harvested early was quite good. A shift in grower mentality is evident across the state -- there is beginning to be a greater sense of urgency about cotton harvest. Awareness among ginners. Publicity regarding fiber quality problems has focused not only on producers but also on ginners. Ginning plays a key role in the system because it is the end point of production and the contact point with quality measurements. Many gins also have advisory relationships with growers in terms of crop management. The spotlight on fiber quality has caused gin managers to scrutinize and improve their handling/processing systems and to encourage growers to do likewise. In the gin community, the quality message has been heard.

State Issue

Agrosecurity

Details

• Year: 2006
• Geographic Scope: State
• County: Tift
• Program Areas:
  • Agriculture & Natural Resources