Simulation of Cotton Harvesting to Maximize Return

ABSTRACT A computer model which predicts the daily quality of cotton lint in the field was coupled with a harvest yield model. This combined model was used to analyze harvester scheduling in relation to the returns to a pro-ducer. The lint quality in the model is affected by weather and exposure time. The harvesting model checks for harvest delays by using the daily rainfall. Several combinations of farm area/harvester ratios, harvest in-itiation dates, and cotton lint values were tested in the model for weather data from 1960 to 1969.