Anyone expert on cotton strippers vs. pickers?

Downside: Less value of the product, pound for pound. But perhaps in your case, enough more of that product to make it worthwhile. Tyler gave you the best advice: Talk to your local county extension agent.

snowmantn

A picker will give you the best quality cotton and will allow for several "pickings" and usually only pick the cotton that is ready meaning open bowls. It will also cost a lot more than a stripper and will cost lots more to maintain.

The stripper is a much cheaper option. However, the cotton quality will be lower to that of a picker. You will only pick "strip" the cotton once and then you are done (from what I understand). You get much more trash with a stripper. You will almost always have to use a great deal of defoliant for get the most bowls open as possible for your one pass on the crop. Your fiber length will probably be less with a stripper because of how it handles the seed cotton. I would definately talk to someone that is an expert. I am by no means an expert, but i have a few ideas about your options. I would recommend contacting a State University Extension specialist. Try contacting the ag department at a local university or maybe the USDA NRCS. They should be able to get you in touch with someone that is a cotton expert. Good luck in your decision