Cotton is one of the most important crops in the world, and it’s essential that farmers are able to harvest this crop efficiently and effectively. Unfortunately, cotton harvesting in extreme weather conditions like heavy rain is much easier said than done. Rainfall can have a major impact on cotton harvesting and make it difficult for cotton farmers to take advantage of their full crop yield. Read on to find out more about the specific ways on why you can’t harvest in the rain and how it affects the harvesting process.
Rainy Conditions and Cotton Harvesting
In recent years, weather patterns have been shifting around the globe, and there has been an increase in precipitation in key cotton-growing states like Texas. Rain soaks cotton and makes it difficult to harvest properly. As rains get heavier and more frequent, this problem is arising for a lot of cotton farmers in Texas and across the country. In addition to the heavy rains that are soaking cotton plants, there are also fewer sunny days, which means that it takes longer for the cotton to dry out. Even when it does, the wet cotton that’s harvested after these heavy rains tends to have a lower color grade, which causes the crop to lose a lot of its value.
Many farmers struggle to find the right time to harvest cotton during rainy spells. If they harvest too soon, they risk the issues associated with wet cotton picking. If they wait too long, the crops may no longer be viable. With all of the difficulties associated with cotton growth and harvesting in wet weather conditions, cotton production has gone down. What’s more, the lower color grade of some of the cotton that’s produced during these rainier years leads to lower cotton prices, which can seriously disadvantage cotton farmers who rely on loans to finance their cotton production.
On top of the wet weather that a lot of cotton farmers are experiencing in the summer and fall, many farmers are dealing with drought conditions in the earlier parts of the year, which has also taken a toll on overall cotton production. Still, despite all of these issues, there is a lot of hope among farmers that the heavy precipitation will improve soil quality and, as a result, boost their cotton yield in the coming growing and harvesting seasons. The key to success for farmers who are growing and harvesting cotton in adverse weather conditions is to adopt effective techniques and use the right equipment.
Get Parts for Cotton Picking and Harvesting
To ensure that your cotton picking equipment continues operating effectively in a wide variety of harsh weather conditions, it’s essential to ensure that you have the highest quality parts and components possible. When you order your parts from Certi-Pik, USA, you can feel confident that you are receiving the best parts available for your harvesting equipment and machinery. We are proud to offer an extensive selection of pre-fabricated parts, as well as specialty components and part fabrication services. Regardless of what specific components you need, we are here to assist you. Give us a call today to place your first order.
Cotton pickers rejoice—cotton picking season is almost upon us! It’s time to do some hard work and reap the rewards. We wish everyone a safe and bountiful cotton picking season, and we know that having properly maintained, effective equipment is a major factor in a successful cotton harvest.
Keeping your cotton harvester and cotton harvester parts in good shape doesn’t have to be very difficult. In fact, once you get used to the different safety precautions and maintenance procedures, they will soon become second nature.
With that in mind, here is an overview of how you can keep your cotton harvester in good condition, and avoid needing emergency cotton harvester replacement parts this cotton picking season.
Keep it safe
Above all else, you need to make the safety of yourself and your crew a priority this picking season, and at all times. That means avoiding dry, windy picking conditions, and avoiding other common hazards, such as scrap metal, rocks and bricks blocking your path, trash and lint accumulation on your equipment and inexperienced or careless machine operators.
Fires are a major concern for any cotton picker, and for good reason: they can wipe out your entire crop, not to mention put you and your crew and loved ones in danger. Take some time to really study fire safety before this picking season begins, and consult an expert if necessary.
Maintenance and cleaning
Another major factor in having a successful cotton picking season is ensuring that your cotton picker is properly cleaned and maintained.
You can find a lot of cotton picker maintenance and cleaning tips in the other posts on this blog. Whether you use high water pressure, low water pressure or high air pressure to clean your cotton picker, make sure you follow proper safety protocol. And remember: having a well-maintained cotton picker means you have a good chance of making it through picking season without needing any emergency repairs or part replacements.
Moisture considerations
Whether you are a seasoned cotton farmer or this is your very first cotton season, knowing exactly when to begin picking can be tough. This decision depends largely on moisture conditions—if it’s too dry outside, then a fire can easily start, but too much moisture can damage your product and result in a lot of lint buildup on your machine.
Here’s a good general rule of thumb: assess the moisture content of your cotton each morning before picking, so you can closely track where it’s at.
Here to help
Now that you know the basics of how to keep your cotton harvester and cotton harvester parts in good shape during picking season, you are set up to have a bountiful and relatively stress-free season! That said, unexpected things can come up, and we are here for you when that does occur.
If you find yourself in need of maintenance or new Case IH cotton harvester parts this cotton picking season, please feel free to get in touch with Certi-Pik, USA. With years of experience and a helpful, highly knowledgeable staff, we can help get your picking season back on track in no time.
Are you new to cotton picking? Or could you use a refresher on how to properly clean your cotton picker and cotton picker parts? If so, you have come to the right place!
Here at Certi-Pik, USA, we have decades of experience in producing high-quality cotton picker parts, and servicing and repairing them as well. We’ve seen time and time again how not properly cleaning and taking care of your cotton picker can cause some serious problems, which is why we decided to put together some basic tips on how to safely and effectively clean your cotton picker and cotton picker spindle.
With that in mind, here are five things to consider when cleaning your cotton picker:
Low-pressure water washing: Low-pressure water washing is ideal for washing debris from the front row units of your cotton picker. It is very effective, but it will require a good amount of time, especially if you have a large, multi-row picker. It also makes the ground around the cotton picker very wet, so be careful not to slip and fall when using this cleaning method.
High-pressure water washing: Want to remove the trash and grease in your row units, but don’t have time to wait around for a low-pressure water washing? If so, then high-pressure water washing is your best bet. The higher force of the water pressure is great for pushing off extreme buildup, and is particularly helpful for cleaning out the inside of row-unit cabinets.
High-pressure air cleaning: If you need to remove trash and lint buildup from a cotton picker or cotton picker spindle, then high-pressure air cleaning may be your best bet. Keep in mind that the volume of your high-pressure air cleaner will affect how powerful it is, and you will want to do some research to figure out the safest and most effective level to put your cleaner on.
Precautions: Cleaning a cotton picker can be dangerous work—but as long as you take the proper precautions, you should stay safe. Be sure to wear safety equipment, including gloves, boots, eyewear, long pants, a long-sleeve shirt and heat protection gear. Never point your high-pressure air cleaner at the radiators, hydraulic oil burners or other combustible components.
More tips: There is a lot more we could cover here—remember, if you have questions, ask a professional! That being said, here are a few more general tips to keep in mind about cleaning your cotton picker: raise the handrails when cleaning the tops of bale chambers or picker baskets; hold both handrails and face the ladder when climbing up or down; and remember to use the safety locks on all bale chambers and baskets before cleaning your cotton picker. If you follow these simple tips, you should be in good shape!
Now you know the basics when it comes to cleaning cotton pickers and cotton picker parts! We hope this has been helpful, but if you still have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the helpful team at Certi-Pik, USA.
Have you ever wondered how that cotton shirt you’re sporting went from a wild plant in the field to a finished product you can wear? Cotton production is a unique and intriguing process. It involves specialized knowledge and equipment such as cotton harvester parts.
To beef up your knowledge of this process, use the following seasonal schedule of cotton planting, growth and production. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact an expert in cotton harvester parts for answers.
Spring
In the spring, cotton seeds are planted. Farmers organize these plantings into long rows called furrows. After a few weeks, the plant begins to emerge from the soil. Growers must faithfully water the crops if rainfall is insufficient for growth. They must also remove weeds to ensure they do not choke the cotton plants, as well as check for bugs or other pest invasions and take steps to control for them. Fertilizer is also typically added at this time. By the end of spring, cotton flowers appear. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers.
Summer
During the summer, cotton farmers must continue to water the crop and check it for pests. Throughout this season, the plant grows into a bushy shrub that is about three feet tall. Cotton bolls also appear, splitting to reveal seeds and the white fluffy cotton that will be used for cotton products.
Fall
Fall is the time for harvest. Growers pick the cotton and pack it into bales or modules. It is then sent to the cotton gin, where it is separated into seed and fluff. The fluffy lint is then packed into bales.
Winter
Once the cotton has been packed, it is sent to spinning mills. Farmers prepare their fields for the next season’s crop, and manufacturers start working on the fresh batch of cotton.
Year-Round Manufacturing
Once the cotton reaches textile mills, it is crafted into a variety of products we use every day. It is spun, dyed, knitted and woven into fabrics. Using these processes, manufacturers transform cotton into clothing, diapers, filters, beauty products, blankets and more.
In addition to these uses for the fluffy material of the plant, other byproducts of cotton can be applied for a variety of uses. In fact, most of what is harvested is useful in some way. For example, the oil from the cotton plant is used in products such as cereal and potato chips. The leftover meal is used as animal feed.
With so many uses, it’s easy to see why cotton is such a popular commodity and why the cotton industry remains a major player in the world economy.
Learn More
Do you have questions about the cotton production process or cotton harvester parts? Certi-Pik, USA is your go-to source. We fabricate replacement parts for picking units and offer a broad list of specialty items and sheet metal parts for rebuilding units, including camtracks, drumheads, spindles and spindle nuts, picker and grid bars, slip clutches, lubrication hoses, stalk lifters and more. Contact us today to find out about our 50 percent savings!
Have you ever noticed that one of those things everyone remembers from elementary school history class is that Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin? What else do we know about the history of this industry? How has it grown through the years? How has it affected the country as cotton picker parts grew in demand and the industry expanded?
You might be surprised at how much the cotton industry has changed through the years and what an interesting history this industry holds. Read on to discover more.
Cotton in the West
Of course, Eli Whitney wasn’t the first person to contribute to the cotton industry. This fabric was common during the Middle Ages, when it was hand-woven on looms. Ancient Egyptians even grew and spun cotton. It was during the 12th century that cotton weaving was spread to Europe. Around 1350, the spinning wheel was introduced to this part of the world, and by the 15th century several ports had become important, profitable cotton trading hubs.
When Christopher Columbus reached the New World, he discovered natives clad in cotton garments. Yet it wasn’t until the 1790s that the young United States would become a large consumer of cotton goods. At that time, U.S. cotton production was minimal. However, increasing British demand for the products spurred growth in the industry, and innovations in cotton collection and weaving made additional rapid growth possible.
This was when Eli Whitney and his key invention entered the scene. The modern cotton gin increased cotton production and pushed the commodity ahead of tobacco as the main cash crop in the South. By the 1830s, the U.S. had become the world’s top producer of cotton. The plant continued to dominate the South until the 20th century, when the economy began to diversify.
Modern Challenges and Growth
During the 20th century, boll weevils, a type of beetle that feeds on cotton, created tough challenges for the cotton industry. These pests caused billions in damages. They posed such a threat that the Boll Weevil Research Laboratory was established in the 1950s. This organization created lures and traps which successfully fought back against these invaders.
For modern cotton production, biotechnology has become an important factor. Genetically modified cotton can resist chemicals and repel insects. These innovations have helped keep cotton in demand and profitable.
Since the 1980s, demand for cotton has doubled. The U.S. is now the third main producer of the commodity, behind India and China. The cotton industry remains a major employer globally and a popular product around the world.
Discover More
Would you like to learn more about cotton, its history and the modern use of cotton picker parts? Whether you are simply curious or need information to improve your current production, contact the experts 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. Contact us today to receive up to 50 percent savings on quality replacement parts for your John Deere or Case IH Cotton Harvesters.
