Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Cotton Production and Processing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #431147
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: Management of cotton modules using RFID: Wheel loader and telehandler work tool - system design

Author
item Wanjura, John
item BOHN, MATT - Bohn Technology Solutions
item Holt, Gregory
item Pelletier, Mathew

Submitted to: AgriEngineering
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/14/2026
Publication Date: 8/19/2026
Citation: Wanjura, J.D., Bohn, M., Holt, G.A., Pelletier, M.G. 2026. Management of cotton modules using RFID: Wheel loader and telehandler work tool - system design. AgriEngineering. 8(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering8080347.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering8080347

Interpretive Summary: A new work tool for handling round modules with wheel loaders and telehandlers was developed and implemented as a component of the USDA-ARS Electronic Module Management System. The system recorded module weight, seed cotton moisture content, load number, GPS position, and cotton ownership (client/farm/field) for each module engaged by the machine in a database stored on the local PC and in a Microsoft Azure cloud database. Module weight was determined from measurements of the hydraulic pressure in the loader arm lift circuit and seed cotton moisture content was measured by a specially designed probe. The work tool system utilized RFID tags contained in round module wrap to uniquely identify and rotate each module into proper position for fixed position wrap cutting. Proper positioning of round modules prior to cutting the wrap during removal at the gin has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of plastic contamination in lint bales. The cost of the work tool system ranged from $11,615 when configured for manual control via the loader joystick to $26,163 when configured for full data acquisition and automated control.

Technical Abstract: Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are now included in the plastic wrap used to protect seed cotton formed into cylindrical or “round” modules on new cotton harvesters. In this paper, the development of a new work tool system for handling round modules with articulated wheel loaders or telehandlers is described. The work tool system reads the module specific identification number from the RFID tags in the wrap and associates the module’s weight, seed cotton moisture content, GPS location, cotton ownership, and load information with the module serial number. Module weight was determined on the loader using measurements of the hydraulic pressure in the lift arm circuit. Seed cotton moisture content was measured using a custom designed resistance-based probe. To help reduce the potential for lint bale contamination from module wrap plastic, the work tool system was designed to rotate modules so that the wrap can be cut within the manufacturer recommended cut zone before the wrap is removed at the gin. Total cost for the system configured for fully automated data collection and module rotation control was $26,163.