Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Immature cotton finds a market

Monday, August 5, 2013

In the southern United States, big machines move in and harvest all of the cotton, whether it is ripe or not. A use for the immature bolls has been elusive, at least until now.

According to a report published in Industrial & Engineering Chemical Research, a team of scientists from Texas Tech University found that immature cotton soaks up 36 times its weight in oil spilled into the sea after a tanker or oil rig accident. This is important because immature cotton, otherwise a waste product of a large agricultural sector, is cheap. By comparison, mature cotton soaks up only 31 times its weight in spilled oil, and synthetic products only 15 to 20 times their weight.

Using microscopes to perform an examination, the scientists found that immature cotton contains more fibres that are finer. Farmers should be pleased to have a market at all for their otherwise waste product. BF

Current Issue

September 2026

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Festival celebrates migrant workers in Leamington

Friday, September 11, 2026

The Festival of Guest Nations will mark its 20th anniversary on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Seacliff Park in Leamington, Ontario, bringing together migrant workers, local residents, community organizations, and service providers for a day focused on culture, community, and... Read this article online

El Niño Forecast Signals Warm Fall Across Canada

Friday, September 11, 2026

According to the Weather Network, the El Niño is strengthening and is expected to become one of the most significant events on record, raising questions about how the climate pattern could influence Canada’s fall weather and the end to the growing season for producers. With El Niño... Read this article online

Premier Ford names new ag minister in cabinet shuffle

Thursday, September 10, 2026

When the Ontario legislature returns in October, the province’s agriculture industry will have a new voice at Queen’s Park. In a Sept. 10 cabinet shuffle, Premier Ford named Sam Oosterhoff as the new minister of agriculture, food and agribusiness. He takes over for Trevor Jones, who... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2026 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top