US cotton ranks tops in the world for its quality. Mills want it to manufacture the yarns and fabrics needed for top-of-the-line textiles. Foreign mills assign fewer inspectors to test it than they do for cotton coming from other countries. However, contamination remains a problem.

Some 70 per cent of the foreign matter found in US cotton is plastic, including shopping bags and other non-agriculture materials, but the most common contaminant is module wrapping, which accounts for two-thirds of the plastic foreign matter.

Contamination adds to labor requirements and the cost of handling the cotton — inconveniences that could, at some point, affect the premium some mills pay for US cotton. Plastics, man-made twine, and grease or oil are all now part of the contaminant list.

Module wraps are also significant sources of contamination, and round bales may cause problems at the gin if not handled properly. A possible help includes adding monitors to harvesting equipment that identifies contaminants in the field. Part of the solution will be improved handling at the gin. There can be more round bales coming in to gins.

US fiber remains number one in world cotton exports and the leader in low contamination. But when mills find contaminated cotton, they switch to Australian cotton or offer lower premiums for US cotton.