Advanced Simulation of Seed Cotton Long Range Transportation and Ginning

As cotton acreage continues to decline in the mid-south region of the cotton belt, an increasing number of cotton gins will have problems staying profitable with less seed cotton available in their typical service area. Previous research has concluded that as a ginning facility increases its percent utilization (%U), to a specific optimal point, their resulting processing costs will decrease. Specifically, gins with high rated capacities (greater than 40 bales per hour) may not have feasible amounts of available seed cotton in their normal service area. Findings of previous research illustrated how a gin could conceivably transport seed cotton from 45 miles away, to reduce ginning costs by increasing its percent utilization (%U). Advanced simulation methods, specifically ExtendSim, allows simulation at multiple levels of the ginning process, creating a dynamic model to more closely examine continuous, discrete events, discrete rates, and integrate multiple data sources to gain a more realistic simulation of the logistics involved with long-distance transport and storage of modules. ExtendSim also allows close examination of individual processes to locate problem areas and areas of high cost for further model refinement. Some of the important aspects included are: added cost of traveling farther distances, optimal utilization of a module truck fleet, and maintaining a desired minimal module yard inventory. Using ExtendSim also provides the ability to incorporate appropriate distributions into the model to improve its accuracy. Some of the concepts that are considered are variable delivery rates due to weather events, night time traveling, and the winding road effect. Simulation of the seed cotton transportation process will provide ginners insight into attaining additional cotton from areas outside of the norm to potentially make their business more profitable.