The Lincoln Times

Underweight Cotton Subject To Penalty, But No Binding Law

Lincoln county farmers are advised by farm officials that there is no law requiring payment or deduction of a penalty for small cotton bales. This is in reference to penalties invoked on small cotton bales by buyers.

A farm agent said, "Some farmers are mistaking the penalty as a law."

It was pointed out that the basis for this action by certain buyers is the result of a resolution of the Cotton Buyers Division of the North Carolina Cotton Textile Manufacturers Association, passed at their May 6th meeting at Southern Pines, to penalize underweight bales.

Bales weighing less than 535 pounds but not under 400 pounds are penalized $1, while a $2-penalty is placed on bales of less than 400 pounds but not under 350 pounds. Bales weighing less than 350 pounds may be rejected but if bought will be penalized $3.

However, in lots of 20 bales or more averaging 496 pounds, no penalty will be invoked on bales weighing 350 pounds or over.

Cotton, it was declared, has been historically traded on a gross weight basis from farmer on through all segments of the trade.

"It is true, of course, that cotton bought in a small bale cost more per pound of actual cotton than that bought in a 500 pound bale, since the bagging and ties weigh as much on a small bale as a large one."

Farmers should strive to have their ginner package as nearly as possible a 500-pound bale, but they should not mix cotton of different qualities in order to achieve this. Cotton is bought on the lowest side of a bale.