[july4thfreedomfoundation]

In addition to The Lone Star State, California is also a major cotton producing state. I remember driving through the Central Valley in early November, 1991, and seeing these giant rectangular “piles” of cotton here and there. Each pile was the size of a semi-trailer and had a tarp tied to the top of the pile. A number was spray painted on the side of each rectangular “pile” of cotton.

Unfortunately, about two weeks later a dust storm blew through this same area. There was a massive pile-up of cars and trucks on Interstate 5, and around 19 people lost their lives.

[B-Chan]

giant rectangular “piles” of cotton here and there. Each pile was the size of a semi-trailer and had a tarp tied to the top of the pile

Those are called "modules". You see them everywhere in Texas/

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Those "piles" are called modules and are cotton that has been mechanically packed into the rectangular shape by a machine called a module builder that is attached to and run off the pto of a tractor. The letters and numbers painted on the side of the modules identify the owner and the farm number.

The modules are picked up by a large truck with a tilt bed and rows of chains that drag that module of cotton into the back of the truck. Reversing the chains deposits the module back on the ground at the gin.