Seed Selection: A Research's Perspective on Cottonseed Quality, Profits & Variety Selection
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Abstract
Total cotton fanning return depends on lint and seed value. As a percent of total revenue per acre, lint revenue represents about 88% and seed revenue about 12%. Data from the National Cotton Variety Test for 1980- 98 were used to examine trends in lint and seed yield and lint and seed quality. Annual averages were taken of the data for all upland cotton varieties grown in performance tests in all regions of the U.S. Cotton Belt. Annual average lint premium/discount was used as a quantitative measure of overall lint quality for a given year, and annual average seed grade was used as a measure of seed quality. Premiums and discounts for lint were determined using the 1999 CCC Loan Schedule (USDA) and seed grade was calculated using the procedure specified by the National Cottonseed Products Association. The focus here is on the quality of cottonseed as a food and feed product (not planting seed quality). For the period 1980-98, lint yield and seed yield increased over time, with lint yield increasing slightly faster than seed yield as evidenced by the slight downtrend in seed yield per bale of lint (Figure I). By comparison, for the same period, the lint premium/discount increased overtime, while seed grade was essentially flat. So, what accounts for the difference in improvement of lint quality compared to seed quality?