Where are the cotton fields in Alabama?

Top cotton-producing counties in Alabama include Limestone, Madison, Lawrence, Monroe, Colbert, Escambia, Lauderdale, Cherokee, Baldwin and Geneva, while the state ranks ninth in the nation in production.

What time of year is cotton harvested in Alabama?

Alabama is still one of the top 10 cotton producing states in the country, ranking around sixth in acreage and 10th in production. Cotton planting starts in April, and harvest begins sometime around the first week of October.

What month do they harvest cotton?

Cotton harvesting starts in July in the southern states and may extend into November in the north and will be ready to harvest over time for about 6 weeks. You will know when the cotton is ready to be picked when the bolls crack open and the fluffy white cotton is exposed.

What is cotton defoliation?

Crop Production Cotton defoliation is a process that naturally occurs when cotton plants shed leaves at maturity. The objective of defoliation is not to kill leaves on the plant (which results in desiccation) but rather to get the plant to accelerate the formation of leaf abscission layers throughout the plant canopy.

Why does cotton grow well in Alabama?

Farmers began to push into present-day Alabama’s fertile river valleys when the state was still part of the Mississippi Territory. These rivers provided natural highways, via steamboats, into the interior of the territory and broad fertile plains for growing cotton.

What are the growth stages of cotton?

The developmental phases for cotton can be divided into five main growth stages: (1) germination and emergence (2) seedling establishment (3) leaf area and canopy development (4) flowering and boll development and (5) maturation (Fig. 1). The transitions between these stages are not always sharp and clear.

Is cotton defoliant harmful to humans?

Fatigue, eye irritation, rhinitis, throat irritation, nausea, and diarrhea were statistically elevated in rates adjusted for age, sex, and race and were reported 60-100% more frequently by respondents living or working near sprayed cotton fields than by the comparison group.

What is used to defoliate cotton?

A primary application of defoliants is the selective killing of plants. Two of the oldest chemical herbicides used as defoliants are 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T). The use of defoliants aids in the effective harvesting of cotton and finer lint quality.

How much money does cotton make in Alabama?

Cotton is the most valuable crop in Alabama, bringing in more than $234 million in 2016. The state also ranks sixth in U.S. cotton production. In 2016, Alabama farmers produced 706,000 bales of upland cotton and 207,000 tons of cottonseed.

How did cotton make the state of Alabama?

Cotton made Alabama. It was perfect for the fertile soil settlers found in the area that fueled migration into territory originally settled by Native Americans. It lured Americans to flood the region and grow the crop, leading to a push for statehood.

When do they start planting cotton in Alabama?

Alabama is still one of the top 10 cotton producing states in the country, ranking around sixth in acreage and 10th in production. Cotton planting starts in April, and harvest begins sometime around the first week of October. “You want to be finished by Thanksgiving,” Newby says.

Where did Jerry Newby grow cotton in Alabama?

Jerry Newby’s family goes back even further. He is the seventh generation to grow cotton on his family farm in Limestone County. His grandfather used to plow the field with a mule, picking the bolls by hand. Jerry, along with family members Jimmy, James.

How did industrialization affect Huntsville and Madison County?

Industrialization gained momentum in Huntsville and Madison County with the completion of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway. Northern and western capitalists invested in real estate and the processing of cotton was enlarged.