Cotton is the most important cash crop in Uzbekistan. The country accounted for more than 60 percent of cotton production in the Former Soviet Union. Uzbekistan is located in an arid region, so an extensive irrigation network is necessary to maintain production. More than 50 percent of production is machine harvested. Preliminary cleaning and drying take place before ginning. The ginning season is very protracted, extending over a ten month period. Lint classing is accomplished according to the current GOST standard.