I use to grade the cotton in Arkansas, would do it from Sept. to Dec. then we move to Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama or Georgia to grade their cotton, then on to Califorinia. The cotton is very different in Calif. we had to go to a different school to learn to grade their cotton.. They cut a piece out of the big bales in the field and we grade the piece and let the farmer know how much it is worth..then a buyer will get in touch with the farmer and they hackle over the price..this is all done thru the federal government, we would work 10 days stright, before a day off and had 3 shifts running during the peak season.
I think this is the longest reply I have every typed. LOL