During the majority of the time throughout the 1700s and even into the early 1800s, the two main crops that were grown in the South that brought in cash were indigo, which was used to dye fabrics, and tobacco. There were fields of cotton that grew naturally throughout that area, but most farmers chose not to harvest the cotton since it could be very costly as well as time-consuming to remove all the seeds, which had to be done before the cotton could be sold. Due to all of the work that was required to grow then harvest and clean the cotton, it made it a crop that was not very profitable for farmers.
The people of the South looked on in envy as the economy of the north was much stronger than their own. Most southern people did not make a large income from the agricultural industry unless they were owners of large plantations that grew the crops that brought in cash, since those people tended to be much wealthier. Northern farmers made more money from the same crops that were grown in the South. To add salt to injury, during the late 1700s, the price of tobacco decreased quite a bit. This hit the southern area of the United States hard when it came to their economy. It was very devastating to their overall financial outlook.
That all changed when, in 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin along with encouragement and input from others. He named the cotton gin the way he did because the word gin was slang for the engine. The machine was designed to remove the cotton seeds from the fiber of the cotton without a human being having to do it by hand.
When this invention was combined with the steam engine that was invented by James Watt, it made the process of cleaning cotton so much easier, since the steam engine was used to power the cotton gin. This made it much easier to remove the seeds from the cotton without the use of about 50 people having to do the work. This saved farmers a boatload of money while making them a large profit from the cotton they sold as well as the seeds for cotton oil and the seeds could be used to grow more cotton plants. The southern economy was then boosted by the cotton industry.
Although the cotton gin had many pluses to it, there were also some disadvantages. Read on for a detailed list of some of the disadvantages of the cotton gin, or contact us for more information!
Many southerners became very dependent on the cotton industry and the cotton gin. Cotton producers also depended more on slaves, and so slavery was more deeply entrenched for another 70 years as more people were needed to care for and pick the cotton to fill a growing demand for the crop.
The more cotton plants that were grown, the more the soil began to lose its fertility and nutrients. This non-fertile soil led to numerous disadvantages for continuously growing cotton and the ability to grow other cropsbefore crop rotation was effectively utilized.
Other inventors copied the work of Eli Whitney which then caused him to lose money. He also had to spend money to fight legal battles in an effort to protect the patent he had on the cotton gin. Basically, his invention made others much richer than it ever did him.
The government also began to levy expensive taxes on the farmers for the cotton they produced.
All-in-all, even though the cotton gin had many advantages to it, it came with some disadvantages as well.
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In today’s world of farming, including the harvesting of cotton, more modern equipment is used. The cotton pickers of today are made with the latest technology but still need to be maintained with new or replacement parts to keep them in optimum working order. Certi-Pik has been producing those parts for cotton pickers all over the world since 1988 and is a trusted name in the cotton picker industry for new replacement parts largely fabricated and inspected in house in the USA. To help the industry further we’ve partnered with our customers in enhancing OEM parts and designing new specialty parts to use when rebuilding a machine from the ground up.
Contact the trusted cotton picker parts specialists at Certi-Pik today for all of your cotton picker new and replacement parts and services.
The invention of the cotton gin has been a subject of much debate by historians for many years. It is hailed as one of the greatest advancements in agriculture of all time, changing the world by making cotton an easily available resource. Here we will examine the agricultural and economic advantages of the invention of the cotton gin.
Cotton Processing Simplified
Prior to the invention of the cotton gin, it would take approximately 100 man-hours to remove the cotton seed from one to four pounds of the fibers. Not only was this time-consuming work, but it was also difficult for the worker’s hands and fingers. One person doing this job could only work on the task for a certain amount of time before they physically could not pick any more seeds out.
This fact alone is what kept cotton a marginal crop, regardless of how well it grew in the South.
An Automatic Process
In 1794, Whitney invented his cotton gin, the machine that could automatically remove hard-to-process seeds. This automated the entire cotton process. This reduced the amount of time it would take a worker to process a pound of cotton.
In the same amount of time it took to process one pound of cotton, now with the cotton gin, 50 pounds could be processed. This invention, often aided southern plantation owners, who not only viewed this as a way to streamline their current crop production, but also potentially as an opportunity to expand more and more.
An Economic Boom
This increase in cotton production made it possible for the cotton to become a new cash crop. Cotton could now be grown in the South with few limits and the amount of cotton that could be processed exceeded anyone’s expectation. This created a huge economic boom for America.
Exports Increased
America was not the only place that benefited from the economic boom of a huge cotton industry. England also benefited greatly. The climate of England is not suitable for growing cotton. With cotton readily available in the South, exports could abound.
In fact, America was soon responsible for two-thirds of the entire world’s cotton supply.
New Cotton Products
Now that cotton was so readily available, new products could also be created. New types of clothing were invented, styles changed, and even furniture and house furnishings changed as the entire culture became heavily dependent upon cotton.
Encouraged Innovation
The cotton gin sparked the imagination of many people. Soon, there were many different versions of the cotton gin floating around. Some of these reproductions were actually even better than Whitney’s original invention.
Although this was not great news for Whitney, who actually profited little from the invention, it was great for agriculture as a whole. This invention, and the reproductions and improvements that followed, ignited a spirit of agricultural innovation as other people began thinking about how they could better improve the harvesting and processing of other crops too. Innovations of this type often have a long-reaching positive effect on the economy and culture for years to come.
Advantages for Whitney
For Eli Whitney, there was little financial advantage following his invention. Because of faulty patent laws, he was not able to effectively protect his invention. Others were soon reproducing his machine, and as mentioned above, sometimes even creating a better product.
He did benefit though because the invention gave him credibility as an innovative creator. He went on to invent a system of interchangeable gun parts. This invention was properly patented. Whitney profited very much from this invention.
Today, he is still credited as the inventor of one of the most important agricultural inventions of all time.
Keeping your equipment in top shape means maintenance. You want your investment to last as long as possible. Some families are able to pass their Case IH equipment down for generations. This doesn’t happen, though, unless you can properly maintain and repair your pickers when they need it. If you are searching for Case IH picker parts, you have probably already discovered that this can get tricky when you want genuine Case IH parts.
The Certi-Pik team can help. We employ a team of cotton picker specialists who can help you find just the part you are looking for at a price you can handle.
You may be wondering if purchasing aftermarket parts is even worth your time though. It is important to compare prices. There are a couple of different ways you can find parts for your equipment.
New parts directly from the manufacturer
Used parts from online markets or salvage yards
New aftermarket parts from Certi-Pik
You may want to take some time to compare how these different options will impact your bottom line. There are some pros and cons to each option.
When you buy new from an OEM dealer you will be paying premium pricing for a new part. In addition, that new part will come with whatever warranty the manufacturer offers.
When you buy used products from various marketplaces, you can save a lot of money, but you basically have no way of ensuring the quality of the part. You will also have very few options when it comes to returns or refunds.
The last, and often most effective option, is to buy from a certified aftermarket dealer like Certi-Pik, USA. They stock new Case IH products and parts that will work with your machines.
Parts We Stock
Please note, Certi-Pik is not a full-service Case IH dealer. This means that we keep inventory on a specialized selection of Case IH parts and merchandise to sell as you require. If you need further assistance or service for your equipment, you may want to contact a Case IH dealer near you. Here is an idea from our catalog sections of some of the items we can provide.
Case IH miscellaneous parts
Case IH deep dish doors
Case IH picking unit cabinet
Case IH picking unit system
Case IH water system
Case IH air system
Case IH Belts
When To Order New Parts
If you have a goal of maintaining your equipment for years to come, then one important component will be inspection. Inspection is a maintenance step you take before something goes wrong. This is truly where you can extend the life of your equipment and investments. When you are inspecting equipment, you will want to look for signs of deterioration. Deterioration can start to happen long before you ever know there is a problem. When deterioration is showing beyond acceptable limits: that is the best time to start replacing parts. If you wait until functional problems show up, you’ve waited too long. Once a part has broken or has been excessively worn, it will then start to cause damage to other surrounding parts. This only makes maintenance and repairs more expensive and time-consuming.
Another sign that you might need to start replacing parts is if you notice there is a lot of cotton being left behind during a harvest.
Are Used Parts a Good Investment?
Buying used parts can save you a lot of money. But it is only smart to also consider the downside, as well. Whether you choose new or used parts will be dependent on a lot of factors. You should consider how often you use the machine. If you are using your machine year-round and it is part of your livelihood, you will need to consider carefully if you want to make the additional investment into new parts or save the money with used.
Are Aftermarket Parts Used?
Aftermarket parts are not used. In fact, they are brand new. The difference is that aftermarket parts are not produced by OEM, Original Equipment Manufacturing, facilities. These parts have been manufactured to work with Case IH equipment. These parts when sold by Cerit-Pik, USA are certified to be safe and durable. Aftermarket parts are a great alternative to expensive OEM dealer parts which can really start to cut into your budget. This is especially true if you are trying to maintain a large amount of equipment.
Aftermarket parts are also a much better investment than used parts. Cotton picking machinery undergoes a huge amount of wear and tear. A used part will have already gone through this wear and tear, and you really cannot be sure how long the part will last. There is also usually no warranty on used parts, which means if the part does not work you are just out of luck.
After market gives you the assurance of new parts without the high prices you’d find from a dealer.
Over the last couple of years, the ability to apply self-repair and maintenance on agricultural and capital grade equipment has become a big issue. While equipment makers, including John Deere, have been advancing the capabilities of vehicles and systems well beyond what could be expected of them five years ago, a lot of that direction has also been in the environment of dealer and specialist application to support. That left the owner and self-repair of owned equipment out of the picture, especially without the correct tooling to get the job done.
Responding to the Needs of Customers
However, listening to the market and what customers want in terms of hands-on capability, John Deere has put into motion a full revamp of self-repair support, including access to a number of tools needed to effectively maintain John Deere equipment outside of a dealer or specialist arena starting in 2023. This shift will open the range of diagnostic tools that are so critical now in identifying and isolating issues with equipment as well as their proper maintenance schedules. Additionally, the enhancement will expand mobile device support and software availability, allowing users to manipulate diagnostics with their own mobile devices as well as John Deere reader tools.
The self-repair push is consistent with the support platform John Deere has already been providing in the digital arena, particularly to smart phone users, pushing out software updates, diagnostic code interpretation and more. Now, the 2023 move will allow the same customers and more to add updates to tooling equipment and controllers as well. Additionally, customers and independent repair resources will see the John Deere ADVISOR system open up to them directly; currently, this support is only accessible through John Deere dealerships.
The changes come on the heels of the federal government putting the right-to-repair on the radar for many large equipment industries, and tractor manufacturing was high on that list. Rather than wait for a regulatory approach, John Deere has positioned to be proactive in the arena and support customers directly. This is a huge boost for many John Deere equipment owners, who already support a vibrant secondary market for additional parts, consumables, replacement components, software updates and more.
Long-term Lifecycles for John Deere Equipment Happen with Support
Spare parts and replacements are a big downstream element of the John Deere market. There is always a demand for lights, fenders as well as durable part replacements on gears, pulleys, sprockets, shafts and more. Some models are practically stripped clean as soon as they become available in somebody’s surplus as a result. Understanding this ongoing need, John Deere’s approach will continue to enhance and make it far more doable for folks to maintain their existing equipment versus struggle with forced obsolescence.
While everyone loves a good treasure hunt, sourcing a particularly hard-to-find part and finding it can be an accomplishment. It’s not so fun when the same equipment inventory is needed right away for a critical operation. In this regard, part support and essential consumables continue to play a critical element in maintaining equipment, especially during seasonal highpoints, such as field prep, transportation runs, and harvesting. Add in the network capability John Deere provides with the ADVISOR system for part-finding and consumable supply, and people really start realizing the ability to “cook with fire” when it all comes together in the ideal aftermarket support system John Deere is pushing in 2023.
Good Things Coming with the New Year
All the self-repair support changes coming will be a welcome paradigm shift for John Deere equipment owners in the next year. As many secondary market suppliers are fully aware, lots of folks have little idea where to go for different parts, components and items a given local dealership simply might not stock or have access to. No surprise, which has also led to some creativity and use of the wrong parts salvaged from other sources as well, creating even bigger problems downstream when things don’t run right, or worse, cannot be supported anymore by John Deere due to the mixing involved.
While the first reaction might seem to be more competition from independent sources, dealers will instead realize increased activity for their inventory as their information and stock is shared through a wider network. At the same time, equipment owners themselves will realize greater ease in finding the right parts and consumables for their given models and units as well. The 2023 John Deere support approach is really a win-win across the board, long-term, both for the broad interest in John Deere equipment as well as their long-term maintenance for years to come.
Case IH has had a long-standing reputation for building the highest quality of farm equipment, including tractors and machinery used on cotton farms. Technology has improved over the years, and Case IH has made it a point not just to keep up, but break out with new innovations. Here are a few common questions about the Module Express models.
The series of Module Express machines are very popular among industrial, commercial, and even with smaller cotton farms who rely on efficient harvests each year.
How Much HP Does the Engine Have on the Module Express?
The Case IH Module Express generates 400 horsepower via an 8.7-liter diesel engine. This amount of power is what is expected with an industrial cotton harvester, and is designed to provide the power you need to have consistent efficiency year after year when harvesting your cotton crops.
It uses a 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, which provides the balance of power and fuel efficiency cotton farmers need. More options include an engine built by Case or by Cummins, according to your personal preference.
What is the Capacity of the Module Express’s Basket?
The Case IH Module Express is available with either a basket, the 620 model, or one of two modules, the 625, and 635 models. The basket is specified for 10,500 pounds, the modules can hold either 10,000 or 12,000 pounds. This provides for a volume of 1,000-1,400 cubic feet in a roughly 8x8x16 foot module bin. This size is consistent with what other makes and models of cotton harvesters provide, and will not slow you down by forcing you to stop and unload at unexpected times.
Just like every other aspect of this harvester, the basket or module attachment you choose is designed to meet the needs of farmers who have the utmost of expectations concerning the equipment they use, and you won’t be disappointed with the Module Express.
What is the Maximum Module Weight of the Module Express?
The Case IH Module Express produces modules of standard height and width yet half the length, so they are easy to manage on the farm and can still fit in a regular shipping module truck by placing two half bales in it.
The weight of a standard module is 20,000 pounds, or 10 metric tons, so the bales produced by this machine are half sized at 10,000 pounds, with a minimum size of 4000 lbs. Although these bales are considered half-length, they are consistent with industry standards because they do fit into the traditional system of transport and processing.
How Many Bales Can the Module Express Wrap?
Although the Case IH Module Express does not wrap its modules automatically in the harvester compared to the John Deere round module builders, they can be manually wrapped easily with the 16 foot cover. It’s designed to hold the cotton in either a module or basket while running a row, and drop off the harvest for pickup at the end of the row.
Additionally: its good practice to place modules end to end with previously placed modules for easier loading on the transport truck. It can keep harvesting all day long until you’re ready to come in for refueling and evening cleaning at the end of the day. It doesn’t use either plastic or string, but instead after being deposited on the ground the cotton is held in a tension bale tight enough to hold itself together. From there, it can be separately tied or wrapped according to yours, or your purchasers, needs.
How Many Row Units Does the Module Express Have?
Depending on the model, the Case IH Module Express can have either 4 or 6 row units. They are designed to be spaced for narrow, wide, or medium rows between 30 and 40 inches apart. Height sensing is an automatic computerized system designed to give you the best yield efficiency during each harvest.
By harvesting 4-6 rows at once, you’ll be able to keep up with the production expected of commercial farms, and conduct the work at a speed which allows you to provide cotton to the needs of industrial level purchasers.
What Pro Units are available for Usage on the Module Express?
Pro Units are a John Deere product, Case IH makes the Module Express. The drum units for this model consist of two drums per row, one on each side, picking from both sides of the plant.
Each drum has 12 bars and 18 spindles associated with each bar. That’s a total of 432 spindles per row unit to assure quick and efficient harvesting according to the expectations of commercial farmers who need to harvest as much as possible in a day, every day of harvest season.
How Large is the Fuel Tank on the Module Express?
The Case IH Module Express boasts a 200-gallon fuel tank, enough to run for a full day between refueling, so you don’t have to come in from the fields before finishing a day’s worth of work.
It has different drive modes for different purposes, whether harvesting cotton, doing a second scrap run to pick up any leftovers from a previous run, or driving between fields at over 16 miles per hour. Each mode is designed to get the most fuel efficiency and make sure the 200 gallons is going to be plenty for your everyday use.
How Large is the Water Tank for the Moistener System on the Module Express?
The water moistener system holds 365 gallons, enough to conduct a day’s worth of work. The last thing we want is for you to run this machine without proper cleaning. Engineers made sure you’re not going to run out on a typical day in the field, so it can operate as efficiently as it was designed. Without the moistener system, the natural oils in the cotton will clog any machine, that’s why it was so difficult to invent the first cotton harvester.
Case IH provides an efficient cleaning system to keep spindles working all day without getting clogged up, so you can keep working. Keep in mind, the moistener system works during the day, before being parked at night the harvester is going to need a deeper cleaning to assure it’s ready to be refilled and get back to work the next day.
