The 2013 Cotton Ginner Schools offered a wealth of information – from maintenance to safety – to increase ginners’ proficiency and provide gin managers/owners updates on the latest ginning technology and industry issues. In addition, certified ginners were able to obtain continuing education credits.
Attendance was again strong: Southwest School (123), the Western School (43) and the Stoneville School (85).
National Cotton Ginners’ Association (NCGA) Executive Vice President Harrison Ashley says an extremely important topic covered at all schools was contamination prevention. That included a presentation from John Deere on proper handling of round modules.
“The U.S. has maintained a reputation as having contamination-free cotton –- a distinction that often gives us an edge over our competition,” he says. “This past year, U.S. mills notified us that they were discovering foreign materials, more specifically, types of plastic film contaminants, in their laydowns. It has been determined that this contamination was coming from several sources, which include black plastic sheeting used in vegetable production and ditch liners, and the wrap used on round modules.
“Ginners’ first priority is to work with growers, harvest crews and others to make sure contaminants are not mingled with seed cotton during harvesting and moduling.”
Ashley believes this year’s ginner school attendees took the zero contamination challenge to heart and that the renewed focus on contamination will bear fruit during the 2013 harvest season – with an overall reduction in lint contamination compared to previous years.
Other key topics receiving emphasis in the schools’ three-level coursework level were programmable logic controls and moisture restoration.
More information about the schools is on NCGA’s website at www.cotton.org/ncga/ginschool/index.cfm.