Area Served

The Southwestern Cotton Ginning Research Laboratory serves the irrigated Southwestern Region of the Cotton Belt made up of Arizona, California, New Mexico and the extension District 6 area of El Paso and Pecos, Texas. Known for its long growing season, this region produces upland cottons and extra-long-staple Pima cotton, famous for its high-quality fibers which grow well in the dry, sunny climate of the Southwest.

Why Ginning Research?

Ginning research is vital to the growth and well-being of the cotton and ginning industries, which depend on research developments to make ginning easier and more profitable. Consumers also benefit from ginning research developments. New developments mean better ginning methods, and better ginning methods result in more affordable and higher-quality textile products for everyone.

Research Studies Develop, Test, and Adapt New Ginning Methods and Equipment

At the Southwestern Cotton Ginning Research Laboratory, we continually seek ways to improve every aspect of ginning. Our research programs in saw and roller ginning cover all major stages of the ginning process, from seed-cotton conditioning and cleaning, to ginning and lint cleaning. Conducted by our team of engineers, physicists, and shop personnel, the aim of these research studies is to develop, test, and adapt new ginning equipment and techniques that will: (1) increase lint production and its value, (2) preserve the quality of the cotton fiber, and (3) reduce or eliminate the air pollution associated with cotton ginning, at minimum cost to the farmer and the cotton gin.

Many of our research programs are conducted in cooperation with the USDA ginning laboratories in Stoneville, Mississippi and Lubbock, Texas. Together we work on research projects to benefit the ginning industry throughout the Cotton Belt, but with an emphasis on solving those problems unique to the area we serve.

In order to deal more effectively with the problems associated with cotton ginning, our research staff also works with a number of other government and independent organizations throughout the U.S. Organizations, such as Cotton Inc. and the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, as well as ginning equipment manufacturers and privately-owned gins, contribute to the success of our research programs with their knowledge and firsthand experience. Other organizations whose input also proves useful to our research programs include the National Cotton Council, Supima Association of America, and national and state Cotton Ginner's Associations.

Research Facilities

For ginning research to be successful, experimental conditions at the research lab must reflect operating conditions at the commercial gin plant. So that we can conduct and evaluate our research programs more effectively, research facilities at the Southwestern Cotton Ginning Research Laboratory include a saw- and roller-ginning laboratory fully equipped with seed cotton driers and cleaners, saw- and roller-gin stands, as well as lint cleaners and bale presses. Research facilities at the lab also include a machine shop where we construct our own experimental machines, complete with sheet-metal tools, welders, and wood-working tools.