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ARM AND F I ANCH n ULLETIN Vol. 18, N o. 2 February 1963 COTTON "VACUUM CLEANER" Field loss of cotton has been one of the major objections to the use of mechanical pickers, says Joe E. Clayton, Agricultural En gineer with the U. S. Department of Agricul ture. Although better machines and improved agronomic practices have tended to increase picking efficiency, ground losses of cotton are still excessive. The amount of cotton dropped during harvest generally ranges from 5 to 15 percent of the crop, depending upon weather, field, and plant conditions. During the early years of mechanical pick ing, there was little interest in the development of mechanical methods for retrieving cotton from the ground. Some producers tried glean ing by hand, but this practice proved to be both slow and expensive. As yields rose and the use of harvesters increased, interest in mechanical pickup devices began to develop. roll on the ground and grasp the cotton in the notches. The belts are individually mounted on a floating arm and sheave arrangement so that they will follow the contour of the middle. The cotton is grasped and passed along underneath the belts to a smaller set of notched belts. Some trash drops out between the two sets of belts. After the cotton leaves the second set of belts, a drag-chain conveyor elevates it into a hopper at the rear of the pickup unit. When the hop per is filled, the cotton is dumped on the ground and then may be loaded on a trailer with a fan loader or seed fork. The cotton gleaner was used throughout most of the 1961 harvest season, with the first tests beginning immediately after the first pick ing. In one of the tests, the machine was oper ated on October 12 in a field of open cotton where a picker had purposely scattered locks on the ground. Although some of the cotton had been thrown against the stalks, out of reach of the picking belts, recovery was at the rate of 1 bale per acre. Mechanical cotton gleaners were first used in the West, where high yields and weather conditions are conducive to retrieving cotton from the ground. After it was successful in Arizona and California, the practice of using the gleaners spread eastward, and several ma chines were used in the Midsouth in 1961. One of the cotton gleaners was tested by engineers at the Delta Branch of the Missis sippi Agricultural Experiment Station in 1961, and test lots were ginned by the U. S. Cotton Ginning Laboratory at Stoneville. A 2-row, skip-row harvester was used in the tests. Tests also were conducted in October after normal mechanical picking. In these tests, the cotton contained an average of 35 percent trash, but some lots exceeded 50 percent in areas where all the leaves had just fallen. The gleaning machine caused some damage to plants in extremely rank growing cotton; con sequently, it should not be used until after the second picking in this type of cotton. Mr. Clayton explains that the pickup unit of the harvester utilizes 14 notched belts which Wet fields prevented the use of the gleaner at the Delta Branch in November 1961. The FEDERAL RESERVE DALLAS, BANK TEXAS OF DALLAS agricultural engineer points out that difficulty identical except for the light bulbs. Each bulb is encountered in pulling the machine through utilized a piepan-type aluminum reflector and wet fields and mud fills the slots in the belts. illuminated an area of approximately 100 Although the belts still pick up some cotton, square feet. The group in the 25-watt section the tractor wheels press cotton locks into the laid an average of 200 eggs per bird during the ground. The cotton picked up in December 316-day period, while the group in the 40contained substantially more sticks but less watt section averaged 203 eggs. leaf trash than that picked up during earlyAccording to the Louisiana specialists, sav season tests. The machine was operated a sec ings from the use of 25-watt bulbs as compared ond and third time in some of the fields, and with 40-watt bulbs would amount to 18 kilo additional cotton was picked up during each watt-hours per month for each 10 bulbs, or trip. 1,000 square feet of house area. If a rate of In October, when picking conditions were 2 cents per kilowatt-hour is assumed, the sav favorable, the gleaner had to cover 10 to 25 ing would amount to 36 cents per month per acres in order to harvest a bale of cotton. In 10 bulbs. December, the machine gleaned a bale from 8 to 10 acres; and in one instance, it gleaned a bale from 4 acres after the stalks had been An ice cream cow may not cut. The cotton picked up in December had a be just a childhood daydream lint turnout of 27 percent; therefore, 2,071 if the prophecy of some dairy pounds of seed cotton were required for a 500researchers comes true, re pound bale of lint. This lint graded Good ports the Oklahoma Agricul Ordinary, had a staple length of 1 inch, and tural Extension Service. Re sold for 30.5 cents per pound. Some of the searchers say that, in the near early-season cotton graded Low Middling or better, with a staple length of 1 1/16 inches. future, they may breed cows that can “special ize.” Some cows could then produce milk for The cotton picked up by the gleaner in the ice cream, and others could provide milk for Mississippi study contained large quantities of making cheese. sticks and stems, necessitating a large amount Dairy researchers have found that feeding of overhead cleaning at the gin. Although the may encourage growth of certain bacteria in a trash content was about the same as that in cow’s stomach (rumen) which will help pro hand-snapped cotton, ginning and cleaning re duce milk with tailor-made qualities. They quirements were somewhat greater because of point out that the rumen is essentially a fer the higher percentage of sticks. Mr. Clayton mentation vat. Ideal conditions are provided says that gins may be reluctant to handle this for the growth of billions of bacteria and type of cotton during the peak ginning season. protozoa. These microscopic plants and ani Cotton gleaned from the ground frequently has mals are very effective in breaking down the a higher moisture content and should be food that the cow eats. If the cows are prop checked carefully when stored. erly fed, they may be able to produce the type of milk best suited for ice cream — or cheese — or for consumption by children — or for A commercial cage operator can use lower adults. wattage light bulbs and yet maintain egg pro duction at a satisfactory level, according to Louisiana State University specialists. Mirex, a new bait treatment for the im In a 316-day experiment, 25- and 40-watt ported fire ant, proved highly successful in a light bulbs were used in two sections of a cage 3,000-acre test conducted recently near Baton house containing a total of 880 birds. Con Rouge, Louisiana, according to the State Agri ditions in each section of the house were cultural Extension Service. The treatment was An Ice Cream Cow? Low Wattage Bulbs for Cage House Fire Ant Problem Believed Solved very effective in eradicating the ants and had no harmful effect on wildlife in the area. The bait is composed of an insecticide (mirex), a food attractant (soybean oil), and a carrier (corncob grits). The size of the generator needed for a par ticular farm can be determined by estimating the amount of power required to operate equipment that must be used at all times and selecting a model that will handle the load. The agricultural engineer says that, generally, Tests in Louisiana and several other fire ant- the installation of a generator which will handle infested states show that mirex is highly spe the entire electrical load of the farm is not cific in its effect on both imported and native practical because of the substantially larger fire ants. Only one-seventh of an ounce, or investment involved. about a teaspoonful, of insecticide is required Generators usually are rated in watts or in per acre. Mirex poses no threat to human kilowatts, and if the generator is to be powered beings, wildlife, birds, or fish; and, at the by a tractor, 2 horsepower per kilowatt capac recommended dosage, the chemical causes no ity of the generator should be allowed. A 20residue problem. Moreover, beef or dairy cattle horsepower tractor will be needed to operate a do not have to be removed from pastures dur generator with a 10-kilowatt rating. ing treatment. An outstanding advantage of the new ma terial is that ants — highly attracted to the soybean oil — carry it inside the mounds to be fed to the queen and brood. During warm weather, the ants are killed out in 2 to 4 weeks; in cool weather, several months may be required. When the Lights Go O ff When the electric power fails on the modern farm, many essential operations are halted, points out W. S. Allen, Agricultural Engineer with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Since much of the work of dairymen, poultrymen, sheep producers, and others depends on electric power, many farmers prepare for such emergencies by installing standby generating equipment. Mr. Allen says that electric systems are con stantly being improved and that power failures are becoming less frequent. However, hurri canes, ice storms, and other unpredictable catastrophes of nature still cause interruptions in service. The farmer may choose either a completely automatic engine-driven generator or a model that is powered by a farm tractor. The tractordriven type is more popular, because it is less expensive and the farmer has less money in vested in a piece of equipment that he uses only occasionally. The generator may be driven by either a power take-off or a belt. Mr. Allen says that, for safety and good service, the generator should be installed prop erly and a transfer switch should be part of the installation. The farmer should consult his electric power supplier for assistance in safe and satisfactory installation of a generator. Pink Bollworm Detection Tests by scientists with the U. S. Depart ment of Agriculture may result in improved detection of pink bollworm infestations. The tests use a natural attractant obtained from female pink bollworm moths. The scientists are working to identify this natural attractant chemically and are hopeful that it will lead to a synthetic, which would aid greatly in pink bollworm-control efforts. Although it has been confined to cottonproducing states west of the Mississippi River, the pest is a constant threat to the Nation’s cotton industry. Scientists are searching for a low-cost method of detecting the pink boll worm, which inflicted its greatest damage (nearly $30 million worth) in south Texas in 1952. In field tests at Torreon, Mexico, conducted in cooperation with the Mexican Department of Agriculture, the natural attractant proved as effective as living female moths in luring male moths to baited traps. Other insects were not attracted to the substance. The researchers believe that the natural at tractant will still be useful in bollworm eradi- cation even if a synthetic pink bollworm sex attractant does not become available. Sufficient material can be extracted from the abdomens of young female moths to provide an inexpen sive means for detecting the pest and defining the limits of a pink bollworm infestation area. According to the USDA, accurate determina tion of the limits of an infested area will reduce the cost of controlling the pest. Tractor Tune-Ups Increase Efficiency, Power Tuning up a gasoline or liquefied petroleum gas tractor can increase its fuel efficiency 14 percent and its power 11 percent, states Henry O’Neal, Agricultural Engineer with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. This increased power and economy can also mean a saving in time. LP gas and gasoline engines usually require a tune-up after every 250 hours of operation. If adjustments are not made when they are needed, the engine cannot deliver the power it was designed to give, and fuel will be wasted. Improper timing and incorrect carburetor ad justment can seriously harm an engine be cause of overheating and oil dilution from unburned fuel. Some of the simple tractor tune-up opera tions can be performed with only a small amount of extra equipment and the hand tools that are available in the farm shop. The total cost of this equipment (which includes a flat feeler gauge, a round spark plug gap gauge, an ignition file, and a timing light) is about $8. tural Extension Service. However, carelessness in the use of these chemicals can be very dangerous to the poultry producer, his flock, and the meat and egg consumer. An important precaution in the use of any insecticide is the careful reading of the label on the container. The label on each container of chemicals shipped in interstate commerce is based on evidence that the contents meet the legal requirements of the Federal Food and Drug Administration. The Texas Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act gives the Texas Department of Health authority over pesticide commerce within the State; Texas regulations conform with those of the Federal Food and Drug Ad ministration. The Federal Food and Drug Administration has established the tolerance amounts of chem icals that are permissible in poultry, meat, and eggs for human consumption. The tolerance amount in eggs and milk is zero for the com monly used pesticides; consequently, the chemicals used on laying hens must be selected carefully, advises the poultry husbandman. In poultry meat, a tolerance of 4 or 5 parts per million is allowed for certain chemical compounds. Chemicals used for fly control in poultry must be selected carefully and applied cautiously in order to avoid contamination of water and feed. The wise use of chemicals is an important part of a good poultry management program. On the other hand, negligence in the use of these materials can lead to legal prosecution, warns Mr. Wormeli. Cotton batting can be chemically treated to make padding that holds its shape and re mains resilient through long use, according to U. S. Department of Agriculture scientists. Expanded markets for cotton in fine up holstered furniture, mattresses, and seats for automobiles, airplanes, and other vehicles are anticipated as a result of a new chemical proc The development of chemicals for the con ess. In addition to its improved resilience and trol of poultry insects has been one of the dimensional stability, cotton padding made major scientific contributions to the commer by this process is less expensive than such com cial poultry industry, points out Ben Wormeli, petitive padding materials as synthetic fibers Poultry Husbandman with the Texas Agricul and foam rubber. According to Mr. O’Neal, the tractor opera tor’s manual, which outlines the tune-up pro cedures and furnishes the proper specifications for the engine, is the best guide to use when tuning up the tractor engine. Read Labels on Poultry Chemicals
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