The Georgia General Assembly recently appropriated $550,000 for a micro-gin to be built on the University of Georgia campus in Tifton. A plan development committee, comprised of industry and university officials, have begun pre-construction planning.

The commission and the University of Georgia have worked to target other funding sources for the micro-gin. Other sources identified are state and federal channels, in addition to private contributions.

Research staff at the University of Georgia have expressed the need to gin research cotton samples in conditions that replicate those in a commercial environment, and the micro-gin is specifically designed for that purpose.

Though the primary focus for its use is agronomics, other plans for the gin include research on ginning problems unique to the Southeast. All of the gin's machinery will feature plexiglass sides, making it an excellent educational tool for training ginners and technicians.

Information on this project may be obtained by contacting Richey Seaton of the commission at (478) 988-4235 Extension 22.