Do People Use Machines to Take Cotton From Plants to Make Cotton Clothing?

Cotton Pickers

• The mechanized cotton picker uses prongs to turn and pull cotton from the cotton boll. Metal teeth then remove cotton from the prongs where it enters a conveyor and then a basket for dumping.

Cotton Strippers

• Cotton strippers are another means of harvest. This machine pulls off the entire cotton boll from the plant before sending it to a conveyor. They are used where climate doesn't allow multiple passes through a field.

Modules

• After cotton is removed from the plant, it is usually stored in groups of about 15 bales inside water-resistant modules. It stays there until transported to the gin.

Cotton Gin

• At the gin, machines fluff the cotton prior to cleaning it. Cotton is then moved to gin stands where fibers are pulled through wires to separate out seeds. It is then compressed and stored in bales until transported to a mill.