Cotton regions report that cottonseed quality has been adversely affected due to the extreme wet harvest season.
Elevated levels of free fatty acid (FFA) in the seed, associated with high moisture content, greatly diminish the seed's crushing value. Typically, FFA levels above 1.8% in cottonseed render it unacceptable for crushing. Reports indicate that there is seed with significantly higher FFA levels and extremely low seed values at the oil mill.
Knowing FFA levels could be helpful in determining the best marketing approach for seed with suspected high FFA content. A quick test to determine approximate FFA content in cottonseed has been developed by scientists at the USDA/Southern Regional Research Center in New Orleans. Details on modified test procedures and equipment required for gin-level testing will be posted on the National Cotton Council Web site, www.cotton.org.
