USDA, GA Department of Ag to Collaborate on Seed Coat Fragment Issue
January 5, 2021 U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has directed USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to collaborate with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to raise awareness and further examine the significant increase in seed coat fragments in cotton produced in the southeast region.
Thus far in the 2020 cotton season, the AMS Macon, GA Classing Office has classed 2.2 million samples, of which approximately 895,000 contained seed coat fragments. In addition to seed coat fragments, a portion of samples also contained whole cotton seed.
A cotton sample with seed coat fragments identified by blue circles. Credit: AMS Cotton & Tobacco Program
“This significant increase in seed coat fragments has caused obvious concern around the region and questions about the possible cause, as well as the cotton classing process,” said Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black. “We are working closely with USDA and industry experts to identify the cause of the issue and potential solutions.”
“Following Secretary Perdue’s engagement with Commissioner Black, we would like to invite producers and stakeholders to visit our office and see classing firsthand to better understand the issue,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach. “All ten of the AMS Cotton Program classing offices operate by the same standards, processes and quality control procedures, and we look forward to sharing more information about how we ensure accuracy and consistency in the classing process.”
A highly trained team classes every cotton sample received at an AMS Cotton Classing Office. After being tested on an electronic “high volume instrument” (HVI) for a variety of fiber properties, samples are manually inspected for the presence of extraneous matter. If a classer determines that an appreciable amount of extraneous matter exists throughout the sample, a code is entered into the computer system that identifies the specific type of matter.
A portion of all samples graded each day are randomly selected for re-check in the office and another portion of these samples are shipped to the AMS Cotton Program’s Quality Assurance Division in Memphis for another re-check.
“I have complete confidence in the integrity of the cotton classing process, and I appreciate USDA’s willingness to provide additional information to producers,” added Commissioner Black.
Producers and other stakeholders interested in observing the cotton classing process should contact Noah Bell, Area Director of the Macon Classing Office, at (478) 474-2831 to schedule an appointment. The office is located at 1100 Parkway Drive, Macon GA 31220.
Strict adherence to COVID-19 protocol is required for each visitor.
Based on information provided by USDA AMS
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