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Picking Weeds out of a Cotton Field

On one of my adventures recently, I traveled to Nashville, GA with my buddy Rob Rainey to photograph how cotton fields are tended and weeded by humans. The weeds are called Pig Weed and no herbicide can control them. The only way to get rid of them is to hire migrant workers to comb the fields and pull them by hand. These weeds can get very prolific, like Kudzu, if left unattended. The primary reason they are picked is because at harvest time, the root balls are so strong and large in diameter that they clog up the harvesting machines and sometimes even damage them costing much to repair. It is only mid growing season here at the end of July and this cotton was already up to my chest in height. One of the workers told me that by harvest time, the plants are way above your head. I had only seen short cotton fields before. The first shots were more like I knew. Then I and Rob trudged out in the fields to capture the work ethic of these wonderful workers. BTW: it was nearly 100 degrees without any wind whatsoever.
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  • An old farm building at the entrance to Carlos Vickers cotton field.  Carlos Vickers was named Farmer of the Year in 2011.  You can learn more about him by visiting: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFNNO5SQ5nI

    An old farm building at the entrance to Carlos Vickers cotton field. Carlos Vickers was named Farmer of the Year in 2011. You can learn more about him by visiting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFNNO5SQ5nI

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  • Low growing Cotton...the only kind I have seen before!

    Low growing Cotton...the only kind I have seen before!

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  • Just 4 out of about 10 migrant workers who combed the field on July 26, 2012

    Just 4 out of about 10 migrant workers who combed the field on July 26, 2012

  • Our first glimpse of the Pig Weed that had been pulled from along the road.

    Our first glimpse of the Pig Weed that had been pulled from along the road.

  • Trudging out to meet the workers.  The cotton here is still only about knee deep.

    Trudging out to meet the workers. The cotton here is still only about knee deep.

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  • The beauty of the cotton flower...white and rose colored.  These flowers turn into cotton bolls which are very prickly when they dry up before harvest.

    The beauty of the cotton flower...white and rose colored. These flowers turn into cotton bolls which are very prickly when they dry up before harvest.

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  • Pasquale Hernandez was the team leader who was very knowledgeable about what and why they were doing this work.

    Pasquale Hernandez was the team leader who was very knowledgeable about what and why they were doing this work.

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  • One of the women workers in the field.

    One of the women workers in the field.

  • One prized pick from the field!

    One prized pick from the field!

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  • A trophy perhaps?

    A trophy perhaps?

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  • This is the largest root ball we saw picked.  When they turn dry and hard, you can see why they might clog up and/or damage the harvesting equipment.

    This is the largest root ball we saw picked. When they turn dry and hard, you can see why they might clog up and/or damage the harvesting equipment.

  • After about 2 hours in the field with the workers, I'm sure this is how we felt to be going home...near exhaustion and near heatstroke...!

    After about 2 hours in the field with the workers, I'm sure this is how we felt to be going home...near exhaustion and near heatstroke...!

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