Harvesters strip the cotton from the tough stalks much like a giant vacuum cleaner.

Harvesters strip the cotton from the tough stalks much like a giant vacuum cleaner.

More shots of the harvester. Many times there will be several working a field at once.

This harvester was being operated by a one-armed man who called himself "Bubba". I swear I'm not making that up.

Loose cotton is blown into the holding cage in the back of the unit.

A cotton plant ready for harvest. Note the box-like structure called a "boll".

Harvest generally takes place in the fall from October through November.

It's really much harder to get the cotton out than it may appear in pictures.

This harvester can swallow up six rows at a time.

Cotton is separated from the tough stalk by spinning racks of saw-toothed pins called spindles.

Cotton is separated from the tough stalk by spinning racks of saw-toothed pins called spindles.

The driver's view.

Jams and break downs are frequent occurrences. I believe this warning sign means "No Disco Dancing Near Harvester".

Cotton harvesters have auto-pilot and cameras to assist the driver. Once locked on to the row being cut, the harvesters automatic steering takes over.

Cotton harvesters have to emptied periodically. A cotton wagon meets the harvester to collect the dirty cotton.

The harvester hopper elevates to discharge the dirty cotton.

The harvester hopper elevates to discharge the dirty cotton.

The loose dirty cotton is taken to a module maker. Hydraulic lifts raise the cotton basket.

The loose dirty cotton is taken to a module maker. Hydraulic lifts raise the cotton basket.

The loose dirty cotton is taken to a module maker. Hydraulic lifts raise the cotton basket and dumps it into the module maker bin.

Loose cotton is dumped into a module maker.

The module maker is powered by a connection to a tractor. An operator sits in the green box to run the module maker controls.

The raw cotton is packed by hydraulic pistons that slide back and forth across the top and pack the cotton into giant bales called modules

Getting down is somewhat easier than the trip up.

The module maker is towed off the packed cotton module which is covered with a tarp.

Completed modules wait in the field until they're picked up by special trucks and transported to the cotton gin. Lettering on the module covers indicate these are bound for the Burlison Gin.

Vehicle maintenance never ends. Harvest supervisor, Ricky Kidd, keeps the hardware tuned up during time critical harvest operations.

As you can see the packed cotton in the modules is still quite dirty. From the field it will go to the cotton gin where it's separated, cleaned and packed into 500 bales for sale to textile mills.