Author: Certi-Pik, USA

How Is Cotton Picked Nowadays?

Certi-Pik, USA |

Since ancient Egypt, cotton has played an integral role in any developing nation’s economy and lifestyle. In a bygone era, picking cotton was an arduous task for manual laborers that required long hours and a keen eye for detail. It was tough, precision work, but thankfully, those methods for harvesting cotton have long since been eradicated in the United States.

As countries the world over have begun their own development, the demand for cotton has increased to an incredible extent. In 2018, for example, the United States produced more than 17 million bales of cotton all on its own. However, that’s nothing compared to some of the world’s heavy hitters.

Fortunately, as time and technology progressed, so have the methods for harvesting cotton. In the 21st century, farmers rely on several state-of-the-art machines to deliver this crucial manufacturing component. Depending on which part of the world you’re standing in, you’ll likely see one of two methods utilized to harvest cotton.

Mechanical cotton pickers

The most commonly employed machine for picking cotton, mechanical cotton pickers can be found in many regions throughout the country, including the Southeast, the Midsouth (Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi) and the Far West (Arizona and California). The cotton baler parts in this ingenious device remove the cotton lint from the bract, leaving the rest of the plant intact.

Just as the method for picking has changed to being mechanically based, the machinery itself has also transformed over the years, making the mechanical cotton picker a true technological marvel. Cotton pickers today can harvest from six rows of crops at a single time and compact the lint into a bale on the fly.

Mechanical cotton strippers

Used for harvesting cotton on the High Plains, a mechanical cotton stripper combs across the rows of cotton, removing the leaves and the branches in addition to the cotton lint. Because more of the cotton plant is left in the harvested bundle, more work is required on the back end to sort out the lint from the debris.

It might seem inefficient, but there’s a reason for this: leaving behind the stalks (and only the stalks) makes tilling the cotton for next season that much easier.

The cotton harvester part pro

No matter how well these cutting-edge machines are constructed, they’ll eventually break down, and you’ll need new cotton baler parts. Wear and tear is as reliable as the need for cotton itself. When your cotton picker breaks down, you can rely on the pros at Certi-Pik, USA for the industry’s highest quality manufactured replacement parts.

When you need trustworthy replacements for your blown cam track, drumhead, spindle, picker, lubrication hoses and so much more, you can rely on Certi-Pik, USA for the answer. Around the world, farmers at every level of the cotton industry turn to Certi-Pik, USA.

Let us become your one-stop shop for cotton baler parts and cotton harvester parts. Visit us online and contact us today and learn how to receive up to 50 percent savings on quality replacement parts for your John Deere or Case IH Cotton Harvesters.

What Is the Cotton Growth Cycle?

Certi-Pik, USA |

If you’re in the business of growing cotton, one important thing to know about is the growth cycle of this successful commercial crop. There are a number of different varieties of cotton throughout the world, but not all are used for economic purposes. In the U.S., there are currently 14 states that are considered major cotton producers, mostly in the South and Southwest. Collectively, these are known as the Cotton Belt.

When it comes time to harvest cotton, you need a source for cotton picker parts that you can trust. Certi-Pik, USA is a leader in the industry because of our unparalleled expertise and high-quality products. Read on to find out exactly how the cotton growth cycle plays out.

Stages of growth

Cotton plants all have a time frame during which growth occurs. This begins with planting the seed in the soil. Under ideal conditions, the cotton seed germinates in under 10 days. Soon thereafter, two leaves appear on the seed, called cotyledons, which introduce the plant to the photosynthesis process.

In the following weeks, these young leaves become true leaves and continue feeding the plant. During weeks five to seven, small flower buds appear. Then, within a matter of days, the flower will appear and pollinate. The last stage exposes the cotton boll, which is the white, fluffy part of the plant. This continues to grow, and each plant may have up to 100 bolls containing 500,000 cotton fibers.

The bottom line is that after 140 days following planting, the cotton will split along the bolls and dry out. At this point, they’re ready for picking.

The right soil

It’s essential to grow cotton in soil conditions that are as close to ideal as possible. This can only be achieved through regular soil testing. The soil should be tested for its content of important nutrients and minerals like phosphorous, potassium, nitrogen and soil pH. A balance of these is necessary to spark the growth process. You may need to add fertilizer depending on the results of these tests.

It’s worth noting that weather and climate conditions have a significant impact on the chemical composition of soil. For example, significant amounts of nitrogen may be lost due to leaching and denitrification, which occurs in warmer, more humid climates. Also, different types of soil have varying moisture contents and may retain nutrients better than others.

When harvest time comes, you’re going to need cotton picker parts to haul in the crop. Certi-Pik, USA has been working with customers worldwide for more than 30 years. We have the best replacement parts in the industry and also sell a wide range of specialty items and sheet metal parts used in the cotton harvesting business.

Even the best machines will wear down at some point, which is why you need a parts supplier you can trust. We carry it all, including camtracks, drumheads, spindles and spindle nuts, picker and grid bars, slip clutches, lubrication hoses, stalk lifters, idler gears, CTX scrapping plates, CTX pressure doors and more. Give us a call today to learn more!

Preparing for Cotton Harvest Season

Certi-Pik, USA |

Whether you’re a commercial cotton grower or just trying your hand at this crop, at some point you’ll need to harvest it. The best way to do so for most operations is to bring in a mechanical harvester. This will quickly and inexpensively harvest your cotton crop. After all, harvesting cotton by hand is back-breaking work, typically involving hauling up to 70-lb bags in the blazing hot sun. However, like all machines, harvesters will need regular maintenance and repairs.

Knowing something about cotton harvester parts is a good first step. Or, you may choose to go the old-fashioned route and pick the cotton by hand. Read on to find out how to best prepare for the next cotton harvest:

Of course, picking cotton by hand is laborious and inadvisable. Instead, consider purchasing or renting a cotton harvester. These machines include a wide range of parts and components to function, including:

Are you looking for a reliable provider of cotton harvester parts? Then you’ve come to the right place. At Certi-Pik, USA, we fabricate replacement parts for picking units and offer a broad list of specialty items and sheet metal parts for rebuilding units, including cam tracks, drumheads, spindles and spindle nuts, picker and grid bars, slip clutches, lubrication hoses, stalk lifters, idler gears, CTX scrapping plates, CTX pressure doors and more!

Find out why we’re the leader in a wide range of farming equipment. Contact Certi-Pik, USA today to receive up to 50 percent savings on quality replacement parts for your John Deere or Case IH Cotton Harvesters!

Maintenance Tips for Skip Row Planters

Certi-Pik, USA |

With all of the action that skip row planters get each planting season, it is expected that issues will come up from time to time, with older planters being particularly vulnerable to any number of various operational malfunctions. Fortunately, your local cotton harvester parts company is here with a guide to some of the most common maintenance issues, large and small, to be on the lookout for, so that you are able to keep your skip row planter in optimal condition:

To avoid downtime that could be damaging to your operations and ultimately your bottom line, you will need to make sure that all of the necessary maintenance is tended to regularly, especially if your planter is more than 10 years old. Fortunately, Certi-Pik, USA has exactly what you need to keep your planter going all season long. We specialize in high-quality replacement parts that have been put through a rigorous quality control process. To browse our extensive inventory of reliable skip row planter parts, make sure you give us a call today.

Reduce Your Harvesting Losses by Investing in Cotton Picker Parts

Certi-Pik, USA |

While harvesting losses are common, and in some cases out of your control, making sure that your cotton picker is in top shape is one way to ensure that you are able to produce a high enough yield to offset some of this loss. In order to do this, you will need to invest in high-quality cotton picker parts to buoy the type of efficiency needed to get that maximum yield. Here is a list of just a few of the parts you can target to improve the effectiveness of your cotton picker:

When you are in need of top-of-the-line replacement cotton picker parts from the best brands in the industry, make sure to contact the team at Certi-Pik, USA. Whether you are on the hunt for a specialty part to complete a rebuild, or you are looking for a standard part to keep your machine running, you can rely on our team to provide you with the high-quality cotton picker replacement parts needed for another successful harvesting season. With more than 30 years of experience, we are well versed in a wide range of various cotton picker makes and models. Give us a call today to learn more about our extensive inventory!