If you’ve ever had to replace your valuable cotton picker parts because of fire damage, then you know how much of a hassle—and how much of an expense—it can be. If you haven’t experienced it yet, take our word for it: it’s better to learn about by reading rather than by experiencing.
As a business that fabricates and sells cotton picker parts, we’ve seen firsthand the damage a fire can wreak on cotton pickers and other cotton equipment. We know most folks would do anything to avoid this disaster, which is why we put together this small guide to avoiding fire on your cotton farm. Read on to learn some helpful information.
The danger of fire
As most cotton farmers know, the conditions of a cotton farm make for a particularly hospitable environment for fire to spark and grow in. These conditions include dry and windy climates, an abundance of scrap metal or brick and large amounts of lint and trash.
The risk of fire grows even greater when those working on a cotton farm grow neglectful. For example, poorly maintained equipment, picker row unit malfunctions and careless cotton picker operators can all contribute to the risk of a fire.
Fire prevention tips
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help prevent and contain fires on your cotton farm. Here are some of the most effective prevention tactics.
Be aware of weather: Unfortunately, those picturesque and ideal days to be outside picking cotton are also the ones that encourage cotton farm fires. When you notice a clear blue sky, a dry heat and a soft wind, be extra cautious when operating equipment. You should also check the fire hazard level in your area each morning.
Be prepared with water:This is a no-brainer, but many cotton farmers tend to slack off when it comes to having a full water trailer and pump on hand at all times. Doing this everyday might be a hassle, but there will likely come a day when it will all be worth it.
Have equipment routinely serviced:Old, rusty and worn cotton picking equipment can all contribute to the start and growth of a cotton farm fire. Hiring a service for regular maintenance is one of the best ways not only to prevent a fire, but also to ensure you’re getting the most out of your equipment.
Remove trash:Large amounts of trash and lint can build up quickly on a cotton farm. They also serve as the perfect fuel for a growing cotton farm fire. Dispose of your lint and trash piles early and often to prevent and contain fire on your cotton farm.
Find parts easily
If you notice some of your cotton picker parts are worn beyond repair, having them replaced quickly is best for fire safety. For affordable prices and quality service, visit or call Certi-Pik, USA any time. We look forward to helping you find the best parts for your cotton farm equipment.
If you’re looking for cotton harvester parts, you might be overwhelmed with all the different businesses out there you might buy from. With all the slick advertising and promises of good deals, how do you know which businesses you can actually trust, and which ones are just taking you for a ride?
One way to narrow down your selection is to look at which of these businesses have accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, or BBB. If you don’t know much about the BBB, read on to find out why you can always count on its accreditation to find quality businesses that you know you can trust.
Strong history: Unlike some other professional accreditations, the BBB’s is based on experience and thoroughness. The BBB was founded in 1912, starting with the goal of promoting excellence and honesty in the marketplace. Today, over 100 years later, there are more than 100 small BBB chapters all across North America to serve local businesses and consumers. One of the BBB’s main and most visible functions is its accreditation system, which depends on rigorous review and assessment of each business that applies for it. So when you hire a BBB-accredited business to provide your cotton harvester parts, you know you’ll be getting the best possible service.
High standards: The BBB’s process for accreditation mainly depends on making sure each business meets the organization’s famously high standards. In fact, they’re officially called the Standards of Trust, and there are eight of them: Build Trust, Advertise Honestly, Tell the Truth, Be Transparent, Honor Promises, Be Responsive, Safeguard Privacy and Embody Integrity. So when you hire a cotton harvester service with BBB accreditation, you won’t have to worry about false advertising, unresponsive service, dishonest policies or any other hallmarks of a poor business. You’ll be getting the best of the best.
Consistency expected: Once a business earns BBB accreditation, that doesn’t mean it’s free and clear. BBB-accredited businesses must routinely pass inspections to ensure they maintain their great service and live up to the Standards of Trust. If a business fails to earn at least a B on its inspection, it is stripped of its accreditation. When looking for a BBB-accredited business to provide your cotton harvester parts, make sure that the accreditation is recent and active. You can also ensure the business isn’t misleading you about its status by checking the BBB’s online database.
Easy to find: You can find additional information about how the BBB got started, what a business must do to earn accreditation and much more on its website, BBB.org. You can also use that website to search for different businesses near you who meet the BBB’s high standards. But if you’re looking for a service that sells cotton harvester parts, look no further than Certi-Pik, USA. We’re proud of our BBB accreditation, and we hope you find we live up to it in every way possible.
Every farmer understands that a certain percentage of crop yield is going to be lost for one reason or another. Perhaps there was damage to a section of land that caused crops to be lost? Maybe there was stunted or tainted growth that rendered some crops unsuitable for sale? Or, worst of all, perhaps a harvesting issue caused the crop to be unusable? While all of these are certainly a possibility, having to realize the losses that can come from harvesting issues is perhaps the most frustrating for farmers, simply because it can be avoided.
It’s estimated that about ten percent of a cotton harvesting crop is lost for one reason or another, with losses as high as 20 percent even tolerated based on overall crop conditions. But for a cotton farmer, these losses can add up quickly, forcing many farmers to take a step back and look at their crop in a different light. What could you be doing better? What circumstances need to be examined more closely to prevent climbing crop losses? Is there something you could be doing differently?
Generally, many farmers will overlook their equipment when it comes to asking questions, simply because it’s an accepted standard that the average functioning cotton picker can maintain about 95 percent efficiency overall, thus mitigating some of the loss responsibility. But, it’s when pickers start to fall short of their efficiency standards that some attention needs to be paid to the various cotton picker parts to ensure that there are no shortcomings that could potentially be avoided on the part of the farmer when it comes to crop yield optimization.
It may be surprising for many farmers to learn that losses attributed to cotton picking equipment and machinery can be cut to below five percent with the right maintenance and repairs, thus mitigating overall crop loss within circumstances that are controllable. But, it takes a diligent, knowledgeable farmer to recognize when certain cotton picker parts are failing or dropping below their accepted standards of efficiency.
Take a look at some of the simplest ways to ensure an optimally functioning cotton picker and some of the chief concerns that you should have about your machinery if it isn’t yielding the results that you’re used to:
Pickers should be checked annually for damage or wear to spindles, moistener pads, doffers, bearings and bushings. Damage or excessive wear and tear requires immediate replacement and could signal inefficiency overall.
The picker’s cam track should be checked for excessive wear—a worn cam track could incite premature failure of complementary picker parts. This is also a job that is generally far out of the capacity of the everyday farmer and should be undertaken by a professional at all times.
Proper lubrication of parts will stimulate better function and stave off premature wear that may compromise a picker.
While it’s acceptable for a small percentage of your cotton crop to be lost for one reason or another, what’s unacceptable is for your losses to come about as a result of machinery that isn’t performing to its highest level of efficiency and effectiveness. Make sure your cotton picker is primed and ready for the job ahead and see your loss minimized.
While it might look big, bulky and ready to take all of the wear and tear you can throw at it, the fact of the matter is that your cotton picker spindle can actually be a delicate piece of machinery, depending on what capacity you’re talking about it in. For example, it might be able to stand up to acre after acre of cotton harvesting during peak season, but on the other hand, even the slightest issue with any number of its vital components could result in a machine that’s virtually useless, or worse, does more harm than good.
To this end, it’s important that during the offseason, your cotton picker spindle is maintained to the highest standards of quality and that everything necessary is done to preserve the function and integrity of this part before we put it back into use again in the near future. Take a look at some of the most important factors to consider during this year’s offseason when it comes to cotton picker spindle repairs and maintenance:
Make sure that the height and tilt of your row units is precise and not uneven or off balance. Keeping the row uniform and balanced will ensure maximum picking efficiency and lessen the chance of complications that can come with slanted or tilted row units. This also ensures faster clearing of debris, which might otherwise bog down and create wear for the bottom of the cabinets.
The spindles and spindle bushings of your unit should be sharp for prime picking. Over time they can dull the entire spindle, making it important to inspect it at length—usually the bottom half of the spindle will wear quicker than the top half. Also important to look for is any rusting that may have occurred since the picker’s last use. Finally, remove and replace any dead or non-rotating spindles that may be bogging down your system, even if the bar needs to be removed and completely disassembled to complete this task.
Replacing any worn out parts is a must before harvesting season is upon us again, so be sure to thoroughly sweep through the essential components of your machine, keeping an eye out for damages that may indicate the need for a replacement. Typically, you can expect about 600 hours of picking from your spindle and bushings, which are the prime candidates for part replacements.
When it comes to the spindle moistening system, clean off any residue that may have built up over time. This will allow the moistening system to function more effectively without diluting the solution.
Keep in mind that your cotton picker spindle will require even more care and attention than what’s listed above—these are just a few quick tips that will put you on the right track to thorough and encompassing maintenance and care. And, should you need assistance finding replacement parts or essential components, know that Certi-Pik, USA is here to help you!
