July 22, 2008
CASE IH MODULE BUILDER AVAILABLE NOW AND READY FOR 2009 HARVEST
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Case IH's Module Express 625 will be officially launched at the 2008 Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast in August, but it is already available to growers who want to improve efficiency and reduce labour and machinery costs in their cotton growing operation.
"The Case IH Module Express 625 is the industry's first commercial cotton picker able to build modules as it harvests," says Case IH Harvest Brand Manager, Geoff Rendell.
The Module Express turns a three-to-five person job into a one person job as it eliminates the need for boll buggies and module builders. The modules created are the same height and width as standard modules, which means there are no modifications required for the ginning process, but because they're half the length of a standard module, tarping can generally be completed by one person.
"By turning harvesting and module-building into a one person job, the Module Express dramatically reduces labour and equipment costs. The cotton is picked at the same pace as with a traditional six-row picker, but modules are formed simultaneously," Geoff says. "And it only takes about a minute to dump a module when full, compared with up to five minutes for a boll buggy."
US growers who used the Module Express 625 for their 2007 harvest reported that they expected to save tens of thousands of dollars a year on labour, machinery maintenance and equipment costs.
"The Module Express allows one man to do the work of three," says US cotton grower Dan Kornegay. "I'm saving about US$1,000 per day by running three less tractors, hiring three less operators and eliminating the maintenance costs of extra equipment. I'm easily going to save US$50,000 per year."
Geoff Rendell says there are other benefits, too, including freeing up tractors and other equipment for other jobs on the farm.
US grower Justin Layton says, "Before the Module Express, we wouldn't start ploughing until we were done picking. We're now working ground right behind the picker. We were able to get winter wheat planted in October versus January with the old system."
Case IH will have a Module Express 625 on display at the Cotton Conference and US grower David Harris will be at the Case IH stand to talk about how on board module building technology is changing the industry. David grows 4,600 acres of cotton and is President and part owner of the Farmers Union Gin Company in Senath, Missouri. He has used Case IH's Module Express and is also currently involved in the trial of alternative systems to pick and bale cotton, with one feeding system of the Farmer Union Gin Company being converted for this purpose.
In addition to its industry-leading module building technology, Case IH will also be showcasing options for controlled traffic farming for planting and crop care, and machine integration with Pro 600 for tractor control, planter control and GPS guidance.
Growers participating in the Cotton Conference are also invited to relax, catch up with friends and network at the Case IH Cotton Club.
