O' the Cotton fields back Home

[Gettmore]

 

[bayouace]

Nice detail. Still king in many North Louisiana places.

 

[JOHN42768]

Pretty photo

 

[Pollaco]

I grew up on a cotton farm about a mile from a cotton gin in South Texas. I've said it before and continue to say the cotton plant was one of God's gifts to mankind.

 

[lupaglupa]

I used to drive across north western Alabama on US 72, moving between grandparents' houses. I loved being there after the cotton harvest when the cotton would blow across the road and gather on the verges like snow.

 

[G Low]

We were driving home from Savannah last weekend and cotton harvesting is ongoing now. Most cotton is rolled into large bales like hay and covered with white plastic. They look like giant marshmallows. It was pretty eerie looking over the cotton fields and seeing the four cooling towers at plant Voglet nuclear power plant all puffing out steam.

 

[G Low]

We were driving home from Savannah last weekend and cotton harvesting is ongoing now. Most cotton is rolled into large bales like hay and covered with white plastic. They look like giant marshmallows. It was pretty eerie looking over the cotton fields and seeing the four cooling towers at plant Voglet nuclear power plant all puffing out steam.

Sherman would have had some great fun aiming his artillery at them!!!

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I used to drive across north western Alabama on US 72, moving between grandparents' houses. I loved being there after the cotton harvest when the cotton would blow across the road and gather on the verges like snow.

Same thing in our Mississippi Delta this time of year.

This thread title reminded me of the classic 1940 folk song, "In Them Old Cotton Fields Back Home " ... which then reminded me
of three German exchange students in college. We taught the song to the guys, and it was so cool to hear them sing it in a Bavarian accent.

 

[G Low]

These are the bails they are making close to where I live.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

These are the bails they are making close to where I live.

View attachment 566097

I see the same "new" cotton bales down here.

If my Dad were still alive, he would not understand this or the current Collage Football NIL system.
But to be honest, I don't understand everything about the NIL myself.

Since I've already mentioned this classic somg, I must include it for those that are not familiar:

CCR performed a great rendition ... but I wish I had a recording of my German friends singing their version !

 

[Pollaco]

Roy Clark had a hit song about him never picking cotton. He told the story of him and several other musicians traveling through Texas. Roy shouted "Stop the Car" and ran out and picked 1 or 2 cotton bolls. He then said " Now no one can say I never picked cotton ".

 

[danny]

I see the same "new" cotton bales down here.

If my Dad were still alive, he would not understand this or the current Collage Football NIL system.
But to be honest, I don't understand everything about the NIL myself.

Since I've already mentioned this classic somg, I must include it for those that are not familiar:

CCR performed a great rendition ... but I wish I had a recording of my German friends singing their version !

It is the prostitution of collegiate athletics by replacing student athletes with hired ______[fill in the blank as you wish]

What follows annually is a fruit basket turnover of team rosters as the bidding begins anew

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

It is the prostitution of collegiate athletics by replacing student athletes with hired ______[fill in the blank as you wish]

What follows annually is a fruit basket turnover of team rosters as the bidding begins anew

Yep, that's a fair assessment.

But like it or not ... this is the new reality of college football in 2025.

 

[Blockaderunner]

Is American cotton still a major export?

 

[Gettmore]

Is American cotton still a major export?

$6.28 Billion in 2024

 

[G Low]

Is American cotton still a major export?

There sure aren't as many mills around any more. I worked at Social Circle cotton mill in the early eighties. We worked on 1930's model Draper looms. Our building was built in the early 1900's all the local cotton mills were in the same boat. They had to update or go out of business. The new "computer" looms had to have concrete floors for stability. China and India had already upgraded so there was no way to compete. Our cotton mill burnt down in the 90's. Monroe cotton mill is now a large flea market. Portadale's huge Bibb cotton mill has been converted to lofts and businesses. Cotton used to be grown on every corner of spare land not so much now. When the mills were closed most farmers converted into growing soybeans. Now all extra land has subdivisions on them.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

View attachment 565909

For what "cotton pickin" reason did you post this photo?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

There sure aren't as many mills around any more. I worked at Social Circle cotton mill in the early eighties. We worked on 1930's model Draper looms. Our building was built in the early 1900's all the local cotton mills were in the same boat. They had to update or go out of business. The new "computer" looms had to have concrete floors for stability. China and India had already upgraded so there was no way to compete. Our cotton mill burnt down in the 90's. Monroe cotton mill is now a large flea market. Portadale's huge Bibb cotton mill has been converted to lofts and businesses. Cotton used to be grown on every corner of spare land not so much now. When the mills were closed most farmers converted into growing soybeans. Now all extra land has subdivisions on them.

I've seen the same things down here as well.

But we still have enough cotton production to signal the start of Autumn in Deep South.
Crop duster planes flying six feet over the cotton fields, one million dollar satellite controlled cotton machinery along with that disticntive smell of cotton defoliant ... all announcing that High School and College Football season has arrived !

 

[G Low]

I've seen the same things down here as well.

But we still have enough cotton production to signal the start of Autumn in Deep South.
Crop duster planes flying six feet over the cotton fields, one million dollar satellite controlled cotton machinery along with that disticntive smell of cotton defoliant ... all announcing that High School and College Football season has arrived !

We used to run up and down the railroad tracks watching crop dusters flying overhead. Got that poison all over us . Had a friend that did that. He crashed and messed his eyes up,couldn't focus both eyes together had to ware a patch. Speaking of poison, me and my brother used to ride bikes behind the mosquito trucks spraying down at Tybee island.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Speaking of poison, me and my brother used to ride bikes behind the mosquito trucks spraying

Gawd yes !
We did the exact same !!

I can still smell that mosquito smoke screen. It was a big event for all the neighborhood kids anytime the mosquito truck was approaching. I don't think any of us died from mosquito poison, but there were many bike wrecks from riding blind behind those trucks. The only injuries ... a few scrapes on our shins and elbows.

Regarding the Agricultural Aviation guys (crop duster pilots) ... I had a fraternity brother in that business.
Him, his bother and Dad were flying like crazy WW I pilots , I was invited to fly with them a few times, but I always declined.
Yes, I'm "chicken" with things like that.

None of this family ever crashed a plane, but their Dad died of a rare cancer from sitting on top of the aircraft chemical tanks for almost forty years.