One of the most common and dependable sights that visitors and locals alike will see in the late autumn is the steady rolling of cotton pickers. Much like a beatle or some other insect; these large mechanical giants can bee seen in the distance through a hazing layer of dust. They go back and forth across a cotton field making their last pass through the almost endless rows of stalks that have the last remaining bolls of cotton fiber.

The cotton harvest was a good one this year with a full allotment of irrigation water and only a few heavy rains during the spring. Rain can be damaging to the small cotton plant sprouts if they are rained upon.

Warm weather increased the growing season and that increased the estimates for a good cotton harvest. But, by the same token, because of the late season warm temperatures the cotton plants need to be sprayed with a defoiliant to get the leaves to fall off.

Without this process the cotton harvesters can't pick the bolls effectively. Leaving the leaves on until the hard freeze knocks them down may delay harvesting until it is too late. Heavy rain or even snow could keep the heavy harvest machines out and the cotton would become damaged and lose value.

With cold weather and snow predicted for Thanksgiving weekend; these cotton farmers are running their harvesters until after sunset.

  (Photos: Brax - Valley Publishing Company)

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