Topics. History of Cotton Classification in the USDA. USDA Cotton Classing and the Need for a Universal Cotton Quality Evaluation System

Transcription

1 USDA Cotton Classing and the Need for a Universal Cotton Quality Evaluation System Cotton Incorporated s Engineered Fiber Selection System Conference Turkey 2005 James L. Knowlton Standardization & Engineering Branch USDA, AMS, Cotton Program Memphis, TN, USA james.knowlton@usda.gov Topics? U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cotton Classification History & Experience Today s System? Universal Quality Evaluation System Progress Promotion Efforts History of Cotton Classification in the USDA 1

2 1907: International Cotton Congress? Asked USDA to Establish Cotton Classification Standards 1908: Original Committee to Establish USDA Standards 1909: First Standards Established by USDA 2

3 Classification Progress Early USDA Interest in Instrument Classification? 1930 s Colorimeter Color Grades Early USDA Interest in Instrument Classification Trash Length Strength Micronaire 3

4 Early USDA Implementation of Instrument Classification? 1970 s Measurement Integration Classing Office Evaluations Early USDA Implementation of Instrument Classification? 1980 First Full Scale USDA Classing Office Operation - Lamesa, Texas - 10 HVI s 1991: All USDA Classing Offices Implement Instrument Classification 4

5 Magnitude of USDA Instrument Classing Since 1991? Average crop size of ~ 17 million bales? Over 220 million bales classed since 1991 USDA Cotton Classification Today USDA Cotton Classing Facilities USDA Facilities Washington DC Visalia Phoenix Memphis Lubbock Florence Abilene Dumas Macon Lamesa Rayville Birmingham Corpus Christi Washington Headquarters Memphis Field Operations / Classing Office Classing Facilities 5

6 USDA Cotton Classification Today? ~ 290 Instruments? ~ 2000 Instrument Operators? ~ 300 Cotton Classers USDA Cotton Classification Today? Qualities Measured: Instrument: Classer: Leaf Grade, Extraneous Matter Micronaire, Strength, Length, Length Uniformity Index, Color Rd, Color +b, Color Grade, Percent Area Trash Achieving Success in an Instrument Based Classification System? Integration of Key Functions: Classification, Standardization, Quality Assurance, Data Dissemination Research & Development Promotion of Universal Standardization 6

7 The USDA Cotton Classification Process The Classification Process? Bale Sampling: The Classification Process Receiving Data Dissemination Traying Classing Conditioning Instrument Testing 7

8 Cotton Classification Standards? Universal Standards HVI (len, str, uni) Grade Procedures HVI (Mic) Cotton Classification Standards?USDA Micronaire Color Trash Leaf Guides Setup Procedures In-House Cottons 6X8 s 8X8 s Sample Moisture Conditioning? Conditioning Standards: All USDA testing laboratories are required to maintain conditions of 21 ±1 C and 65%±2% RH All cotton must stabilize at a moisture content level of 6.75%-8.25% prior to HVI testing Rapid Conditioning Unit Moisture Checking 8

9 Quality Assurance?Checklot Program 12 Classing Office Labs 1% of All Cotton Classification Samples Results (random sampling) Quality Assurance Lab Classification Data Dissemination Textile Manufacturers Other Gov t Agencies Cotton Merchants Abilene National Database Visalia Birmingham Rayville Corpus Christi Memphis, TN Phoenix Dumas Florence Lamesa Lubbock Macon Memphis Customer Access to the USDA National Cotton Database? Controlled Internet Access? Bale Data Accessed with Permanent Bale Identification (PBI) Number? 5 cents per Bale? Simple Sign-up Procedure for Interested Customers (Contact CottonIT@usda.gov ) 9

10 Classification Research & Development? Improving Cotton Classification Developing New Measurements: Short Fiber, Neps, Maturity, Stickiness, Elongation, etc. Working with Instrument Manufacturers on the Development & Improvement of Instruments Instrument Based Leaf Measurements Extraneous Matter Identification by Instrument Improving Measurement Precision & Accuracy Improving Classification Efficiency Moisture Corrected Measurements Evaluating Gin-Based Measurements The Need for a Universal Cotton Quality Evaluation System Standardizing Cotton Classification? Objective: To have one common language for measurement of cotton quality? Benefits: Facilitate Cotton Utilization Increase Cotton s Competitiveness with Synthetic Fibers 10

11 The Need for a Universal Cotton Quality Evaluation System? International Initiatives: Universal Cotton Standards Agreement Solidly Established Internationally Accepted The Universal Standards Strength, Length, Uniformity Index Micronaire Procedures Grade The Universal Cotton Standards Used by Over 50 Countries Worldwide Major Users: Australia China Uzbekistan India Indonesia Japan Thailand Korea Turkey S. Africa Greece Pakistan France Brazil Israel England Portugal Argentina Spain Taiwan Zimbabwe Ghana Italy Switzerland U.S. 11

12 The Universal Cotton Standards Agreement? Established in 1923? Agreement Between U.S. Cotton Industry, 23 Associations from 21 Countries & USDA? Signatories to the Agreement have a Voice in Directing the Universal Standards Program The Universal Cotton Standards Agreement 23 Associations from 21 Countries are Signatory to the Universal Cotton Standards Agreement: Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Egypt England France Germany India Indonesia Italy Japan Korea Malaysia Mexico Peru Philippines Poland Spain Switzerland Taiwan Thailand The Universal Cotton Standards Agreement 1925: First Universal Cotton Standards Conference 12

13 Universal Cotton Standards Conferences Held Biennially from 1925 to 1933 Held Triennially from 1936 to present Only 2 Interruptions 27 th Universal Cotton Standards Conference June 8 10, 2005 Poised to Act on Measures to Facilitate Expanded Acceptance of Universal Standards The Need for a Universal Cotton Quality Evaluation System? International Round Tests Bremen Round Test USDA Check Test Programs Participants provided with 2 samples/month Participants send USDA their own samples If interested, acquire more information from: hvicheck.test@usda.gov 13

14 The Need for a Universal Cotton Quality Evaluation System? International Initiatives: International Cotton Advisory Committee s (ICAC) Expert Panel on Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton USDA Classification Serving as the Model USDA s Universal Calibration Standards Adopted Other Actions: Standardized Test Rules & Recommended Best Practices, Lab Certification, Trading Tolerances & Auditing The Need for a Universal Cotton Quality Evaluation System? International Initiatives: International Cotton Advisory Committee s (ICAC) Expert Panel on Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton Meetings: Bremen, Germany March 22, 2004 Mumbai, India November 28, 2004 Bremen, Germany April 23, 2005 Memphis, TN, USA June 6, 2005 Conclusion? USDA Commitments: Providing the International Cotton Industry with the Best in Cotton Classification Services Facilitating Universal Standardization of Cotton Classification 14

15 USDA Cotton Classing and the Need for a Universal Cotton Quality Evaluation System Cotton Incorporated s Engineered Fiber Selection System Conference Turkey 2005 James L. Knowlton Standardization & Engineering Branch USDA, AMS, Cotton Program Memphis, TN, USA james.knowlton@usda.gov 15