Notes on Cotton Farming and Technology

Introduction

• T-shirts originate from cotton farms, particularly in the Mississippi Delta.
• America is the largest exporter of cotton globally.

Historical Context

• For about a century, cotton dominance in America was maintained through slave labor.
• Today's cotton farming relies heavily on technology instead.

Technological Advancements

• John Deere App:

  • Used to track the location of pickers and tractors.
  • Provides insights from the picker's perspective.

• Bowen Flowers:

  • A third-generation cotton farmer in Mississippi.

• Cotton Seed Engineering:

  • Most American cotton seeds are genetically modified (GM).
  • Created in labs, incorporating genes from bacteria for pest resistance and herbicide tolerance.

Genetically Modified Cotton

• Debate exists over the safety of GM crops.
• In the U.S., over 90% of cotton is genetically modified, a significant increase from 20 years ago.

Impact of Technology

• Technology has led to significant improvements in cotton farming:

  • Machines automatically bale cotton.
  • Specially designed trucks for transporting bales.
  • High-speed gins to process cotton and remove seeds.

• Cotton Yields:

  • Since the 1950s, yields have nearly tripled.

Production Scale

• From one farm in one year, enough cotton is produced for 9 million t-shirts.
• This amount could provide a t-shirt for every person in New York City.