Economic feasibility of narrow row spindle picker cotton

Abstract

Agronomic research has shown that cotton grown on narrower rows (30 in) can exhibit a positive yield response when compared to conventionally spaced rows (40 in). While narrow row cotton can easily be harvested with a stripper harvester, spindle pickers are not currently available with that capability. Recently, several independent producers devised a conversion procedure to allow a standard spindle picker to harvest 30-in row cotton. This economic feasibility study of such a conversion indicates that narrow row cotton can produce a higher and more stable net return than conventionally spaced cotton when harvested with a converted spindle picker. This applies to the Lower Rio Grande Valley and can be extended to other areas which produce long staple cotton that requires spindle picking.