The Gin School is designed to benefit the U.S. cotton ginning industry. Cooperators include the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, the National Cotton Ginners’ Association and its member associations, the National Cotton Council, Cotton Incorporated, gin machinery/equipment manufacturers and suppliers and select land-grant universities.
Tentative dates set for the 2023 sessions appear below.
Southwest Ginners School
South Plains Ginning Laboratory
Lubbock, Texas
March 27-29, 2023
Western Ginners School
Southwestern Cotton Ginning Research Laboratory
Mesilla Park, New Mexico
May 2-4, 2023
Stoneville Ginners School
USDA Ginning Research Laboratory
Stoneville, Mississippi
June 6-8, 2023
Course Descriptions
Each level of ginners school coursework is built on the previous level of instruction, with Level I as the foundation. Therefore, the school’s coordinators strongly recommend that beginning students, regardless of gin experience, start with Level I. Levels I, II and III are all two-day courses, therefore students enroll for one level per school.
Level I
• Introduction to Cotton Ginning and Ginning Demonstration.
• Basic Gin Safety.
• Basic Hydraulics.
• Air Utilization.
• Electricity in the Gin.
• Maintenance and Adjustment for Seed Cotton Cleaners, Gin Stands and Lint Cleaners.
• Maintenance of Auxiliary Components.
• Classing Cotton.
• Moisture Measurement.
• Review of the Cotton Industry.
• Waste Collection and Disposal.
Level II
• Purpose and Operating Principles of Individual Gin Machines.
• Efficient Operation, Adjustment and Maintenance of Gin Equipment.
• Pneumatics and Waste Collection.
• Electrical Systems.
• Hydraulic Systems.
• Gin Safety.
• Management Tips.
• Roller Ginning (at the Western School only).
Level III
• Review of Functions of a Ginning System.
• Electrical Systems.
• Air Systems in the Gin.
• Drying and Moisture Restoration Systems.
• Matching Machinery Capacities in the System.
• Seed Cotton Unloading Systems and Management of Seed Cotton Handling Systems.
• Bale Presses and Hydraulic Systems.
• Safety Programs and Labor Regulations.
• Cottonseed Handling Systems.
• Roller Ginning (at the Western School only).
The 2023 Continuing Education schedule is being developed and may be different for each of the three schools.
For more information, visit https://www.cotton.org/ncga/ginschool/index.cfm.
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Round Module Wrap Standard
According to the National Cotton Council, protecting the quality of our cotton is more important than ever.
On Feb. 15, 2022, the new voluntary round module wrap standard was approved and published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).
This standard protects the industry against inferior wrap products that are beginning to enter the U.S. market and could cause contamination. The standard was developed using measurements from wrap products that perform at levels acceptable to the U.S. cotton industry.
The National Cotton Council will maintain the database of approved wrap products on its website at https://www.cotton.org/tech/quality/contamfree.cfm.
Producers are urged to only use the approved wrap products, which will greatly reduce the chance for plastic contamination.
Wrap products will have to meet or exceed three main requirements in order to be approved:
1. Laboratory Testing
a. Specific Sampling Procedures.
b. Specific Material Strength Characteristic Testing.
2. Field Testing
a. Over time – 6-month test period.
b. In hot/moderate/cold environments.
c. In high UV exposure environments.
d. Under repeated exposure to rain, wind, snow, hail, etc.
3. Wrap Color
a. Improve detection using color-imaging systems.
b. Allowable/Recommended Colors:
i. Any color except clear, white, tan, brown or black.
ii. Recommended Color: Pantone 306C.
For questions or to begin testing in order to be on the approved listing, please email wrapstandard@cotton.org.