Cotton Farming

The race that began in spring is about to reach its final destination. After a long season of critical decisions, unpredictable weather, careful nurturing of the crop and a reliance on new technology, it’s time to get into the fields and finish the harvest.

Therein lies an important question that confronts every farmer. How can harvest be completed in a timely fashion when every minute counts?

Assuming that the proper boll openers were applied and precise crop termination occurred, the harvesters started rolling in late September and will continue through October and into November.

The early birds in south Texas naturally harvest on a different schedule and are usually finished by the end of the summer.

Vivid memories recall the huge crop harvested in Texas last year when it was December before the state’s 7.5 million bale crop was finally harvested and sent to the gins.

True, the critical work has already been done that will determine fiber quality and minimize discounts.

But are there strategies for making harvest even more efficient? According to producers and experts, there are indeed critical checkpoints that shouldn’t be ignored.

Since producers never like to waste time, Mississippi producer Justin Cariker of Tunica has taken an aggressive approach on how he handles a demanding harvest season.

He has a boll buggy and module builder for every harvester running in the field. He knew it was an expensive proposition, but he also realized that it didn’t make sense for his harvesters to sit idly by waiting for the cotton to be packed down in the modules.

Striving For Improvement

Cariker has 4,300 acres of cotton and 1,300 acres of soybeans on his farm. He thought he did a good enough job last year when he employed three four-row pickers, three module builders and two boll buggies.

But the young Mississippi producer knew he could do better in his harvesting. That’s when he decided to spend more money and bring in extra equipment.

“That picker needs to be able to dump cotton anywhere in the field,” says Cariker. “As much as these pickers cost now, you’ve got to have a boll buggy and a module builder go along with them. I’m probably picking more cotton per machine than I ever did in previous years.”

This year Cariker has two six-row pickers and one four-row picker. To make sure that he maximizes his efficiency, he has two workers in every module, one boll buggy operator and one picker operator in the field simultaneously. His mechanic and farm manager also are present and ready to assist.

The entire team stays together in each field to make sure the operation moves as quickly as possible without any delays. Cariker also has his stalk-cutter present wherever the picker is.

Strategy Pays Off

Does this aggressive approach really work?

Cariker says his crew can harvest between 165 and 180 acres a day and usually finishes the entire crop in about 28 days.

“We’re not the first into the field every fall,” he says. “But we’re not the last to leave either.”
Cariker also believes in avoiding the temptation to harvest any of the crop at night.

“I have some neighbors who will go until 10 in the evening,” he says. “You definitely run the risk of picking wet cotton when you go that late.”

He says it’s important to pick dry cotton that hopefully doesn’t have to sit in the gin yard too long. If the cotton is wet, the problems are numerous, and all parties will be unhappy in the long run – especially when it comes to receiving good grades.

When harvest begins, Cariker believes the equipment must perform at a high level of efficiency. In other words, the maintenance should have been completed well ahead of time.

“We do a lot of work on the pickers in the fall when we finish harvesting,” he says. “Then, we’ll come back in January and start working on them again in the shop.”

Cariker recommends this kind of maintenance approach be-cause his workers need to do repairs while the problems are fresh in their minds.

“I know that sounds like a simple thing, but you just can’t wait until August to start working on your equipment,” he adds.

Aiming For High Yields

If Cariker sounds like he farms with a sense of urgency, it’s understandable. His cotton acreage yielded between 1,000 and 1,100 pounds last year, but some actually yielded between 1,300 and 1,400 pounds. He’s hoping to come close to that number this year – although it’s unlikely because of hot, drought-like conditions.

He likes to plant different varieties on his acreage, and that was certainly the case this year. He planted about 20 percent to ST 5242BR and another 20 percent to DP 444 BG/RR. The rest is planted to ST 5599BR. He irrigates about 55 percent of his cotton, with the majority being center pivots. However, he still likes to use furrow irrigation systems.

In order to improve his harvest even more, he planted about 40 percent of the crop to early-maturing varieties.

Cariker doesn’t take harvesting for granted. He knows that he can’t really rest until he can deliver all the modules to the gin.

And he definitely has some ideas about how to improve harvest.

“We need to be more conscious about fiber quality,” he says. “I think we’re skimping on our defoliation. The foreign mills don’t want a four-leaf grade. We have to bring quality into the mix and do whatever it takes to harvest a better crop.”

Harvest On The High Plains

Nowhere in the Cotton Belt is harvest efficiency more important than the Texas High Plains area.
This is a region where unpredictable weather, such as hailstorms, can wreak havoc on cotton crops without any warning. Despite the presence of such a threat, the High Plains is poised to produce another large crop – although not quite as large as 2004.

Producer Ricky Bearden, current president of Plains Cotton Growers, farms about 5,000 cotton acres in Yoakum County southwest of Lubbock.

He knows something about finishing harvest in an efficient way. Last year he finished strip-harvesting his cotton on Jan. 5.

“If I had to convey one message to farmers about harvesting, it would be to use all the technology available,” Bearden says. “By that, I mean we need to use boll openers where they’re economically feasible. And then we need to get this crop to the gins as quickly as possible.”

That sounds simple enough, but Bearden says there are other challenges that face producers at harvest.

Safety Can’t Be Ignored

For instance, he believes that safety is sometimes overlooked during a busy harvest season. Last year one of his farm workers slipped and fell while working on some equipment. Luckily, the injury was only a sprained ankle.

“It could have been a lot worse,” says Bearden. “He could have fallen 10 or 15 feet, but, fortunately, he only fell a few feet.”

One of the problems Bearden and other High Plains producers ran into last year in harvesting a record 7.5 million bale crop in Texas was having enough good tarps to protect modules that often sat in the field for weeks before being transferred to gins.

Thankfully, according to Bearden, many gins have responded in a proactive way to replace old tarps. Producers and ginners have learned the importance of placing modules in dryer locations.
Barring the unforeseen, the High Plains needed a warm September and at least half of October to finish out the crop. With any luck, harvest can conclude before mid-November.

Bearden knows how to diversify his cotton acreage. He plants FiberMax, Delta & Pine Land, Stoneville and AFD varieties and has 3,500 dryland acres and 1,500 irrigated acres.

“We could easily have another record crop here on the High Plains,” he adds. “It all depends on the kind of weather we have. Like I said, we’re doing the best we can to compete in a global export market. When I look to the future, I see some exciting things ahead for cotton in our region.”

Contact Tommy Horton at (901) 767-4020 or thorton@onegrower.com.

Awareness Increases For Timely Harvest

Take it from Craig Bednarz, there are justifiable reasons for knowing how to harvest efficiently.

Bednarz, agronomist at the University of Georgia’s research station in Tifton, could write a few books on what he has observed.

Harvest timeliness continues to be an important issue among Southeast cotton producers who often harvest peanuts before starting on cotton.

“I don’t think farmers get in a hurry to harvest cotton in the Southeast as compared to the Mid-South,” says Bednarz. “Having said that, I think the awareness for timely harvest has definitely increased in our area.”

The Georgia agronomist believes there are viable options for Southeast producers to improve their harvest strategies.

For example, Bednarz says there is a definite advantage when a cotton producer plants part of his acreage early, utilizing an early-maturing variety. By using this option, a producer could go ahead and harvest part of his cotton crop before he ever has to begin the peanut harvest.

“That’s a good way to manage a portion of your cotton crop,” says Bednarz. “I don’t know that we could do that on all the cotton acreage. But this has been discussed and tried with some success.”

He says other options to improve harvest might include scheduling harvest-aid applications so that bolls don’t open at the same time. He also endorses setting up a schedule that reflects how much cotton can be harvested in a day. If a producer can stay on that schedule, he can project harvest capacity over a period of time.

With so many ways to improve harvest, a continuing theme overshadows all these approaches. And Bednarz, for one, isn’t hesitant about the take-home message for farmers – no matter where they farm in the Belt.

“Just find a way to get the cotton out of the field in an efficient way,” he says with a laugh. “That’s what it’s all about.”

The Final Objective — Finishing Harvest
By Tommy Horton Editor
The race that began in spring is about to reach its final destination. After a long season of critical decisions, unpredictable weather, careful nurturing of the crop and a reliance on new technology, it’s time to get into the fields and finish the harvest. Therein lies an important question that confronts every farmer. How can harvest be completed in a timely fashion when every minute counts? Assuming that the proper boll openers were applied and precise crop termination occurred, the harvesters started rolling in late September and will continue through October and into November. The early birds in south Texas naturally harvest on a different schedule and are usually finished by the end of the summer. Vivid memories recall the huge crop harvested in Texas last year when it was December before the state’s 7.5 million bale crop was finally harvested and sent to the gins. True, the critical work has already been done that will determine fiber quality and minimize discounts. But are there strategies for making harvest even more efficient? According to producers and experts, there are indeed critical checkpoints that shouldn’t be ignored. Since producers never like to waste time, Mississippi producer Justin Cariker of Tunica has taken an aggressive approach on how he handles a demanding harvest season. He has a boll buggy and module builder for every harvester running in the field. He knew it was an expensive proposition, but he also realized that it didn’t make sense for his harvesters to sit idly by waiting for the cotton to be packed down in the modules. Striving For Improvement Cariker has 4,300 acres of cotton and 1,300 acres of soybeans on his farm. He thought he did a good enough job last year when he employed three four-row pickers, three module builders and two boll buggies. But the young Mississippi producer knew he could do better in his harvesting. That’s when he decided to spend more money and bring in extra equipment. “That picker needs to be able to dump cotton anywhere in the field,” says Cariker. “As much as these pickers cost now, you’ve got to have a boll buggy and a module builder go along with them. I’m probably picking more cotton per machine than I ever did in previous years.” This year Cariker has two six-row pickers and one four-row picker. To make sure that he maximizes his efficiency, he has two workers in every module, one boll buggy operator and one picker operator in the field simultaneously. His mechanic and farm manager also are present and ready to assist. The entire team stays together in each field to make sure the operation moves as quickly as possible without any delays. Cariker also has his stalk-cutter present wherever the picker is. Strategy Pays Off Does this aggressive approach really work? Cariker says his crew can harvest between 165 and 180 acres a day and usually finishes the entire crop in about 28 days. “We’re not the first into the field every fall,” he says. “But we’re not the last to leave either.” Cariker also believes in avoiding the temptation to harvest any of the crop at night. “I have some neighbors who will go until 10 in the evening,” he says. “You definitely run the risk of picking wet cotton when you go that late.” He says it’s important to pick dry cotton that hopefully doesn’t have to sit in the gin yard too long. If the cotton is wet, the problems are numerous, and all parties will be unhappy in the long run – especially when it comes to receiving good grades. When harvest begins, Cariker believes the equipment must perform at a high level of efficiency. In other words, the maintenance should have been completed well ahead of time. “We do a lot of work on the pickers in the fall when we finish harvesting,” he says. “Then, we’ll come back in January and start working on them again in the shop.” Cariker recommends this kind of maintenance approach be-cause his workers need to do repairs while the problems are fresh in their minds. “I know that sounds like a simple thing, but you just can’t wait until August to start working on your equipment,” he adds. Aiming For High Yields If Cariker sounds like he farms with a sense of urgency, it’s understandable. His cotton acreage yielded between 1,000 and 1,100 pounds last year, but some actually yielded between 1,300 and 1,400 pounds. He’s hoping to come close to that number this year – although it’s unlikely because of hot, drought-like conditions. He likes to plant different varieties on his acreage, and that was certainly the case this year. He planted about 20 percent to ST 5242BR and another 20 percent to DP 444 BG/RR. The rest is planted to ST 5599BR. He irrigates about 55 percent of his cotton, with the majority being center pivots. However, he still likes to use furrow irrigation systems. In order to improve his harvest even more, he planted about 40 percent of the crop to early-maturing varieties. Cariker doesn’t take harvesting for granted. He knows that he can’t really rest until he can deliver all the modules to the gin. And he definitely has some ideas about how to improve harvest. “We need to be more conscious about fiber quality,” he says. “I think we’re skimping on our defoliation. The foreign mills don’t want a four-leaf grade. We have to bring quality into the mix and do whatever it takes to harvest a better crop.” Harvest On The High Plains Nowhere in the Cotton Belt is harvest efficiency more important than the Texas High Plains area. This is a region where unpredictable weather, such as hailstorms, can wreak havoc on cotton crops without any warning. Despite the presence of such a threat, the High Plains is poised to produce another large crop – although not quite as large as 2004. Producer Ricky Bearden, current president of Plains Cotton Growers, farms about 5,000 cotton acres in Yoakum County southwest of Lubbock. He knows something about finishing harvest in an efficient way. Last year he finished strip-harvesting his cotton on Jan. 5. “If I had to convey one message to farmers about harvesting, it would be to use all the technology available,” Bearden says. “By that, I mean we need to use boll openers where they’re economically feasible. And then we need to get this crop to the gins as quickly as possible.” That sounds simple enough, but Bearden says there are other challenges that face producers at harvest. Safety Can’t Be Ignored For instance, he believes that safety is sometimes overlooked during a busy harvest season. Last year one of his farm workers slipped and fell while working on some equipment. Luckily, the injury was only a sprained ankle. “It could have been a lot worse,” says Bearden. “He could have fallen 10 or 15 feet, but, fortunately, he only fell a few feet.” One of the problems Bearden and other High Plains producers ran into last year in harvesting a record 7.5 million bale crop in Texas was having enough good tarps to protect modules that often sat in the field for weeks before being transferred to gins. Thankfully, according to Bearden, many gins have responded in a proactive way to replace old tarps. Producers and ginners have learned the importance of placing modules in dryer locations. Barring the unforeseen, the High Plains needed a warm September and at least half of October to finish out the crop. With any luck, harvest can conclude before mid-November. Bearden knows how to diversify his cotton acreage. He plants FiberMax, Delta & Pine Land, Stoneville and AFD varieties and has 3,500 dryland acres and 1,500 irrigated acres. “We could easily have another record crop here on the High Plains,” he adds. “It all depends on the kind of weather we have. Like I said, we’re doing the best we can to compete in a global export market. When I look to the future, I see some exciting things ahead for cotton in our region.” Contact Tommy Horton at (901) 767-4020 or thorton@onegrower.com. Awareness Increases For Timely Harvest Take it from Craig Bednarz, there are justifiable reasons for knowing how to harvest efficiently. Bednarz, agronomist at the University of Georgia’s research station in Tifton, could write a few books on what he has observed. Harvest timeliness continues to be an important issue among Southeast cotton producers who often harvest peanuts before starting on cotton. “I don’t think farmers get in a hurry to harvest cotton in the Southeast as compared to the Mid-South,” says Bednarz. “Having said that, I think the awareness for timely harvest has definitely increased in our area.” The Georgia agronomist believes there are viable options for Southeast producers to improve their harvest strategies. For example, Bednarz says there is a definite advantage when a cotton producer plants part of his acreage early, utilizing an early-maturing variety. By using this option, a producer could go ahead and harvest part of his cotton crop before he ever has to begin the peanut harvest. “That’s a good way to manage a portion of your cotton crop,” says Bednarz. “I don’t know that we could do that on all the cotton acreage. But this has been discussed and tried with some success.” He says other options to improve harvest might include scheduling harvest-aid applications so that bolls don’t open at the same time. He also endorses setting up a schedule that reflects how much cotton can be harvested in a day. If a producer can stay on that schedule, he can project harvest capacity over a period of time. With so many ways to improve harvest, a continuing theme overshadows all these approaches. And Bednarz, for one, isn’t hesitant about the take-home message for farmers – no matter where they farm in the Belt. “Just find a way to get the cotton out of the field in an efficient way,” he says with a laugh. “That’s what it’s all about.”

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