Cost comparison of alternative stripper and picker cotton harvesting systems

This study provides cost estimates of alternative cotton harvesting methods , including four-, six-, eight-, and two individual four-row strippers and equipment combinations without and with bur-extractors and two-, four-, and six-row picker and equipment combinations. The least cost harvesting syste ms for strippers without and with bur-extractors and pickers, by size of op eration in Texas, were determined by comparing the corresponding estimated average harvesting costs and custom harvesting charges. For stripper and eq uipment combinations without bur-extractors, the four-row stripper had the minimum harvesting cost until about 486 ha (1,200 ac), followed by the six- row stripper for farm sizes ranging between about 526 and 607 ha (1,300 and 1,500 ac) and the eight-row stripper starting at about 648 ha (1,600 ac). In the case of stripper and equipment combinations with bur-extractors, the four-row stripper was the least expensive alternative until about 364 ha ( 900 ac), followed by the six-row stripper for farm sizes ranging between 40 5 and 486 ha (1,000 and 1,200 ac), and the eight-row stripper starting at a bout 526 ha (1,300 ac). The average harvesting cost associated with the two individual four-row strippers and equipment combination were consistently higher than the eight-row stripper and equipment combination. For picker an d equipment combinations, the average harvesting cost was minimized by the two-row picker and equipment combination up to 243 ha (600 ac). The four- a nd six-row picker and equipment combinations became optimum between 283 and 486 ha (700 and 1,200 ac) and at about 526 ha (1,300 ac), respectively.