Estimating the impact of the cotton module builder on the number and size of gins in Louisiana

摘要

The cotton gin is a vital component of the infrastructure required in the production and marketing of cotton. It provides an initial transformation of raw seed cotton into the primary products of cotton lint and seed. The structure of the cotton ginning industry continuously changes in response to increases in operating cost, shifts in location of production, the construction of newer high-capacity facilities, and mode of seed cotton handling system used by producers. Traditionally, seed cotton is placed in a cotton trailer and hauled to the gin. More recently, other methods of handling seed cotton have been developed. The most popular of these methods is the cotton module system. Seed cotton is placed in a module builder, compressed, and stored inthe field for later transport to the gin. As the proportion of cotton ginned from modules increases, there will be a corresponding increase in pressure for change within the Louisiana ginning industry. Therefore, information will be needed to assist theindustry in making adjustments. Specifically, this study proposes to provide an estimate of the potential impact of the module builder on the number, size, and location of gins within the state.