A new computer program that will allow producers to compare cotton varieties tested in 30 locations across five states will be available this fall, said Fred Bourland, cotton breeder and director of the Northeast Research and Extension Center at Keiser.

The program, funded by Cotton Incorporated, is called COTVAR, Bourland said. The program will be available through the cooperative extension service and will simplify variety selection by combining weighted values of four quality measurements into a single grade called a quality score, or “Q-score.”

The Q-score includes micronaire length (a measure of fiber coarseness), fiber length, uniformity of length, and fiber strength. Bourland said these qualities have become more important for cotton producers because their markets have become international and many foreign mills have stricter requirements for these properties.

“Producers will be able to compare varieties suitable for their growing conditions and make selections based on the quality score,” Bourland said.

He added that the scoring method will also be useful in his breeding program for evaluating genetic lines for desirable traits.