ACGA advises growers to communicate to their local gin when problematic modules are headed their way. Pictured is  ginner Mick Bayley at Queensland Cotton’s Cecil Plains gin in southern Qld. Photo: Queensland Cotton

THE AUSTRALIAN Cotton Ginners Association has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States’ National Cotton Ginners Association aimed at fostering industry collaboration.

ACGA secretary and treasurer René van der Sluijs said finalising the MOU was the culmination of much discussion and work between the organisations.

“It’s been a long time in the making and we are pleased that it has finally come to fruition and trust that this will be beneficial to the industry at large,” Dr van der Sluijs said.

“The purpose of this MOU is to establish a forum of dialogue to identify issues of shared interest, strengthen our respective mutual understanding, provide opportunities for the continued education and training of their members, promote the exchange of ideas, and develop methods for research in areas of mutual benefit.”

Dr van der Sluijs said the overall aim was to improve the “technical knowledge base” of the industries.

He said it was hoped this work would have positive impacts to logistics and sustainable practices as well as “enhancing the standards that inform and guide the ginning of cotton”.

The agreement comes as the Australian Cotton Shippers Association, the American Cotton Shippers Association and the Brazilian Cotton Shippers Association announced the signing of a similar MOU designed to advance the global cotton industry.

Formed in 1992, ACGA aims to promote cooperation between industry members, encourage improvement of communications, education, and safety, and sponsor technical developments.

Talk to your ginner

Speaking at this month’s Australian Cotton Conference, Dr van der Sluijs said the industry was “very proud” of its ability to adopt new technology and adapt to varying production levels.

He said Australia has 40 gins, all considered “super high-capacity saw gins”.

“The crop that is in the field is of no value until it is ginned, so ginning plays a very important part in the processing performance trail.”

He said Australia has developed efficient ginning and sensing technology which provides the ability to produce a 227kg cotton bale every 45 seconds.

Dr van der Sluijs said despite this quick turnaround, each gin was currently working beyond a typical season to process the current average-sized crops.

“Generally, all the gins in Australia are set up to do a minimum production of 1000 bales a day or 100,000 bales a season.

“In the good old days, a ginning season consisted of about three months, and now it is too long.

“For example, the biggest cotton gin in Australia at the moment is producing 420,000 bales this season, which is just gigantic.”

Dr van der Sluijs called on growers to work more closely with ginners to ensure that bales are processed more efficiently.

He said growers should communicate in advance if modules are heading to the gin with damage, increased moisture levels, or contamination.

“If you’ve had a stuff-up in the field, speak to your ginner and advise them; tell them what has happened so they can make plans for you.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the capacity of Australia’s largest gin at 480,000 bales.

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