Cotton Picking in Jackson County, Alabama 2006

[karjack11]

nice video I live in north Alabama and when it comes time to harvest cotton I allways love watching it in progress I like the big machinery and the farmers that still work hard for a living

[hotty20032004]

Just a little information for ya. The "Fill Wagon" is actually called a Boll Buggy the one in the video is built by KBH. The "Cotton Press" is called a Module Maker also built by KBH. The conveyor he is talking about is actually several chains powered by the hydraulics on the tractor. The giant pile of cotton is called a Cotton Module which in the end process will make 13-18 bales of 500 lb ginned cotton. The transport truck is called a Module Truck. Just a little more information for ya!

[Laudrien]

Interesting to see. It´s way too cold for cotton here in Sweden, so I haven´t seen that before.

But if you only cover the top, can´t rain get into the bale from the sides?

Rain doesnt always fall vertically...

[messabout1]

Cotton is in the fields at this time. The large bales are only in the field for a short time but the cotton is compacted enough that it does not absorb much rain

[creolelady182]

Messabout1-

You are absolutley right about not seeing one shred of cotton on the ground if human hands picked it.

[messabout1]

I can remember people with pick sacks going along side the roads that lead to the cotton gin picking up blown off cotton locks along the the hauling routes . . .. .hard times indeed

[harvestmaster87]

the first is a cotton stripper then its dumping in a boll buggy in the next photo

[sillysillytom]

great information. tnx

[messabout1]

Welcome Tom

[Bigjohnnywad]

I was truly blessed to have grandparents as wonderful and loving as I had..I truly miss all of them on both mom's and dad's side of the family..

[Bigjohnnywad]

My granmother picked cotton a long time ago..she was born in 1914 and picked it in Arkansas when she was a child...I sure miss her...She was a remarkable lady..In fact most of the women I have dated I always wanted to find a women like her..able to do about anything! She was superwomen to me..

[messabout1]

Mighty good to have had such a grandmother

[Bigjohnnywad]

My granmother picked cotton a long time ago..she was born in 1914 and picked it in Arkansas when she was a child...I sure miss her...She was a remarkable lady..In fact most of the women I have dated I always wanted to find a women like her..able to do about anything! She was superwomen to me..

[Bigjohnnywad]

Interesting story..

[messabout1]

Glad you are watching Jim. I spent many of my young days hand picking cotton and pulling corn so I appreciate the modern mechanized machinery, although I left the farm at about age 14.

[drawbar84]

There are two different methods in harvesting. The picture in the beging shows a cotton stripper which strips everything off of the stalk. A cotton picker takes the cotton fiber only and leaves everything else on the stalk. Cotton strippers are used primarly on the plains of Texas. The two pictures at the beging are taken on the plains of Texas.

[messabout1]

Sounds like you have been there and done it

[susangm]

Thank you so much for showing the process, Richard. Now my curiousity about the process is satisfied! I love seeing how things like this are done.

[messabout1]

Glad to be informative Susan. To tell the truth, I learned a lot about modern cotton farming while doing this video also. thanks for watching and commenting

[zarabcat]

Richard,

top notch video.Thoughtful,informative and well executed.

Only wish my schoolteachers had had your talent!

Guy

[messabout1]

Thanks for such a nice compliment, it means a lot.

[pumper8032]

There is cotton, but mainly in the Northern states, top of New South Wales and Queensland. They use stupid amounts of water and are not real popular with us "Southerners"!! You may not know, but we are in dire straights with a drought right now, a lot of our farmers are walking off their properties, not good.

[messabout1]

OK Darren, no I had not heard about the drought, too bad for the farmers. Even here farming is still a big gamble

[pumper8032]

Thanks Richard, being in the southern state of Australia we don't really get to see anything like this, thanks for explaining this.

Darren

[messabout1]

I'd say "you are way down South". Glad i could show you something you don't see much of.

No cotton down under? I did not know that

[mythhunting]

Great vid mess. I learned something!

[gumleyboy]

I have to hand it to you Richard, another great video to conclude your trilogy on cotton picking. Very interesting and informative, thanks.

[messabout1]

Thanks Frank, I guess that put me in the company of the Hollywood trilogy makers ;-). I hurriedly put it together but it does tell the story pretty well. Thanks for the suggestion.

[hippyhillbilly]

Richard, another vid to add to the DVD, mom's gonna love this. Well done! Peace & Health to ya sir, keep up the awesome work.

[messabout1]

thanks Hippy, glad to share my efforts. I had forgotten how dusty and dirty it was in the cotton patch . . . cough, cough

[2oobwatcher]

I love the videos you're sharing about your area. Wouldnt it be neat to start our own "travel" channel and we each share videos of our part of the country/world? You're very eloquent giving us the particular "flavor" of your Alabama and very informative about the process that has to take place in order for us to wear our decorative "tee" shirts ☺

[messabout1]

It would really be great if more YouTube members would also produce videos of things important to them. "Eloquent", I'll have to show my wife that comment ;-) yes there are a lot of dedicated hard working people doing work such as this.

[iGi1957]

Excellent video Richard, great work!

[messabout1]

Thank you for watching and commenting

[messabout1]

There does seem to be too much waste but the farmers have a limited time to gather the crop before the weather gets bad, so time is important.

[smithysrat]

The only downside I can see is there appears to be a lot more wastage, another informative video.

[sanityeludesme]

Such a great video. Really enjoyed the detailed information you put into it. Thanks for posting it.

[billpg]

That was very interesting, you have a great style for education. Excellent.

More please.

[messabout1]

Thanks Bill, I enjoy doing this type of video. It is some work but is really fun.

[turnermedman]

wow! what an interesting video richard. jackson county is well known over here through tv, and films. the modern way to pick cotton sure beets the old way of doing things. keep well

[messabout1]

I was even surprised myself as I was making the videos. Glad you enjoyed the show.

[krajikevin]

are you retired??

[messabout1]

No, not yet. I work as a design engineer in Huntsville, Alabama. I work three 11 hour days per week.