Having a Cotton-Picking Good Time in Marana, AZ
Area farmers have been busy the past month getting their cotton picked in Pima County. Dust is flying, tractors are whirling, and the hay bale columns are going up.
It always begs the question...how many pairs of jeans comes out of a bale of cotton?
I found out that the machine-sized blocks of cotton ( a module) sitting by the roadside is not a "bale". A "module builder" can hold between 14 and 16 bales. It takes about an acre to make a bale of cotton.
Did you know that 60% of the weight of a cotton boll is seed? A "bale" of cotton weighs about 500 lbs. So the question really is, "How many pairs of jeans from 500 lbs of cotton?" And another picture to ponder...how many bags of cotton balls equals 500 lbs.?..staggering!
Wikipedia says that 215 pairs of jeans = 1 bale of cotton lint. It can also equate to 1217 men's t-shirts, or 313,600 $1 bills! The cotton seed is also important for use in soap, margarine, cosmetics, feed for cattle, and even salad dressing!
Cotton fields surround many lovely rural communities in Marana, AZ, near Tucson. Gladden Farms, San Lucas, Rancho Marana - to name just a few. If you'd like more information on rural living near Tucson, AZ, or homes for sale in Tucson, please contact me. I'll drive a country mile for you!
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