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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Cotton Production and Processing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #427703
Research Project: Enhancing the Profitability and Sustainability of Cotton Fiber, Seed, and Byproducts through Innovations in Harvesting, Ginning, and Post-Ginning Processes

Location: Cotton Production and Processing Research

Title: RFID - What's in it for me?

Author
item Wanjura, John
item WARD, JASON - North Carolina State University
item PORTER, WESLEY - University Of Georgia
item FUHER, LUKE - University Of Georgia
item HARDIN, ROBERT - Texas A&M University
item IQBAL, ZAFAR - Texas A&M University
item BARNES, EDWARD - Cotton, Inc

Submitted to: Crop Protection
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/2026
Publication Date: 2/10/2026
Citation: Wanjura, J.D., Ward, J., Porter, W., Fuher, L., Hardin, R., Iqbal, Z., Barnes, E. 2026. RFID - What's in it for me?. Crop Protection.

Interpretive Summary: Most of the cotton grown in the US today is stored in cylindrical modules known as “round” modules. Round modules are formed on-board the harvester as the machine continues to harvest. These new harvesting systems have gained widespread adoption by growers as they reduce the dependency on harvest-time labor and equipment. Round modules are wrapped in plastic before ejection from the harvester. Many of the wrap products contain radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that can be used to uniquely identify each module and track module specific data collected by the harvester. This paper discusses a system of tools developed to help ginners and growers capture the value associated with use of this RFID technology and module specific data. The system of tools allows for the tracking and management of modules during the handling and transportation processes before ginning and facilitates the collection of data required to map and manage both yield and fiber quality on a site specific basis.

Technical Abstract: About 80% of the cotton grown in the U.S. is stored in cylindrical or "round" modules today. After the cotton harvesting machine forms a round module, it is covered in a multi-layer plastic film to help protect the cotton from environmental hazards encountered during storage. Many of the module wrap products in use today contain radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that can be used to uniquely identify each round module of cotton. Module specific data collected on the harvester is stored by the module serial number contained on the RFID tag and can be transmitted to cotton gins for use in management of modules during the handling and transportation process. This publication discusses a system of hardware and software tools developed to help cotton gins and growers glean additional value from the use of RFID technology on cotton modules. This system of tools facilitates not only the tracking and logistical management of cotton modules but also the collection and management of data for mapping and site specific management of cotton yield and quality.