Technical Abstract: This chapter describes the production of bales of high quality cotton fiber. Many factors ranging from soil preparation to bale packaging play a key role in providing the consumer with good quality fiber. Cotton production practices including soil preparation, variety selection, seed and plant diseases, insect and weed control, defoliation, harvesting, and seed cotton storage, as well as cotton cleaning, drying, ginning, and packaging are described with specific emphasis on fiber quality. Recommended gin machinery sequences and preferred ginning procedures are also addressed. The safety and health of gin employees, regulations, and recommended safety programs that are important factors in efficient operations are also described.