with the geographic shifts in US cotton production and the introduction of new cultivars to the High Plains, there is a question as to whether High Plains cottons might be able to fill the demand for fibers suitable for making high-quality, fine, ring-spun yarns. In preliminary research, Krifa and Ethridge reported that cottons produced on the High Plains with relatively high micronaire performed similarly to California Acala cottons with similar properies in textile production. However, unlike most of California, the high Plains is characterized by variable weather conditions fibers reach full maturity. Experimental work is currently ongoing to characterize the processing characterisitics related to lower micronaire values.