USDA researchers are investigating possible effects outdoor storage and bale coverings may have on fiber and textile quality. Ed Hughs, researcher from the Southwestern Cotton Ginning Laboratory in Las Cruces, New Mexico, reports bales routinely stored outdoors require special coverings.
The current experiments involve monitoring the fiber properties of bales stored both indoors and outdoors over a year period.
After rigorous data collection, which included testing raw fibers and spun, dyed cotton, the team of researchers discovered there were no distinguishable differences between the bale samples.
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