Beyond yield, cotton quality plays a critical role in determining profits. After harvest, cotton is processed at gins, separating the seed from the fiber and forming the fiber into 500-pound bales. Samples from each bale are tagged and sent to classing offices for evaluation.
At the classing office, cotton undergoes rigorous testing, assessing eight key factors, including fiber maturity, strength, length, uniformity, and debris levels. The higher the quality, the better the price growers can secure. This is especially important now, as cotton prices have dropped to less than half their value from two years ago.
Despite a challenging season in Georgia, including impacts from Hurricane Helene, this year’s crop is showing strong results.
Modernization has also boosted efficiency. A new automated grading system, implemented this spring, reduces labor needs while maintaining output. “It’s more efficient and less labor-intensive,” said a classing office representative.
With quality holding up, growers remain optimistic about securing favorable prices in a challenging market.
