The handling, transportation and sometimes storage of seed cotton have been major concerns to the cotton producers and ginners for many years. The cotton producer knows the need to harvest the crop as rapidly as possible to reduce the loss that can occur in the field due to weather conditions. Loss in revenue results from lower quality lint and seed, and in many cases, a reduction in harvestable yield. To minimize these losses, most harvesting systems are selected to harvest the majority of the crop within a three to four week period. This has been possible by the use of new, high capacity pickers and strippers.