4-Bale Module Averaging Pilot Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What checks will be made before a 4-bale module will be averaged?
    • The 4 bales must have the same color grade (e.g. all 11, all 21, etc.) and must be in the following list: 11, 21, 31, 41, 12, 22, 32, or 42. 
    • The 4 bales must pass the outlier tolerances for all 8 quality factors (e.g. micronaire, strength, length, uniformity, color Rd, & +b, trash % area, and particle count).
    • The 4 bales all either have or don’t have Extraneous Matter.
      • When EM is called it must all be the same EM.

USDA Appoints Members to National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the appointment of nine members to serve on the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. Eight of the nine appointees will serve three-year terms, effective immediately through June 30, 2027. The appointee for Region 13 will serve the remaining term of a vacant position, effective immediately and expiring June 30, 2026.

The newly appointed members are:

USDA Launches New Module Averaging Pilot for 2024 Cotton Crop

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), in partnership with the National Cotton Council (NCC), is piloting a program for the 2024-2025 cotton crop that will allow bales to be shipped in four-bale groupings that use averaged quality data. This program will make the flow of cotton into the marketplace more efficient, a goal of both the cotton industry and USDA.

4-Bale Module Averaging Pilot

In partnership with the National Cotton Council (NCC), USDA is piloting a program for the 2024-2025 cotton crop that will allow bales to be shipped in four-bale groupings that use averaged quality data. These groupings of four bales or multiples of four bales will carry the same official USDA classing data for all eight quality factors in an effort to make the flow of cotton into the marketplace more efficient.

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