It's that time of year again—the peak of cotton harvesting season is just around the corner. We feel that sense of excitement as it sweeps across the open fields of West Texas and New Mexico. This chapter in the cotton story is not just about farming; it's about generations of hard work, community, and the heartbeat of our region's economy.

The Crop’s Perilous Fight

The journey begins at the start of planting season, and then 160 days later, when the fluffy bolls burst, it's time for the harvest. Yet, during that window, a crop must endure the weather's mercy. A cotton farmer's biggest adversary is most often Mother Nature. One deluge at the wrong time or no rain at the right time can make or break a crop's yield.

Cotton-Picking Done Right

Thankfully, when it is time for the harvest, John Deere steps in to do the heavy lifting. Our Cotton Pickers make all the difference for the harvest. Strategically, they remove bolls from the stalk with mechanical brushes that speed up the harvesting time for every hard-working farmer.  At a harvest speed of 4.6mph, cotton-picking has never been more speedy. 

Then, a second machine called a cotton stripper knocks open the bolls from the plant into the conveyor belt with rollers fitted with bats and brushes. From our more compact Cotton Stripper 8 Row Rigid Header to our larger Cotton Stripper Header: 12-Row Rigid SH12, a John Deere cotton stripper is essential for any size farm. 

A Harvest Well Done

Once the cotton is successfully harvested, it’s stored in what appears like a giant loaf of mom’s baked bread. Don’t be fooled by its fluffiness, though, these modules of packed cotton weigh up to 25,000 pounds. 

After it’s stored, its final destination is the cotton gin, where it is then processed and prepped for the textile mill or purification manufacturer. 

Where Farm Truly Meets Family

One thing is certain about the harvest—our mission is to serve you.

For us, it goes beyond simply helping you find the right equipment. We want to help you take care of your farm's needs, so you can better take care of those who depend on you. Because you are “Where Farm Meets Family.”