Drying of seed cotton and other crops

A method of operating a cotton gin comprising a module feeder, a separator/cleaner downstream from the module feeder, and a plurality of gin stands receiving seed cotton from the separator, the method comprising

• substantially continuously conveying cotton clumps from the module feeder through the separator/cleaner into the gin stands;
• and
• drying the seed cotton while conveying the cotton clumps by applying electromagnetic wave energy to the cotton clumps at an energy density in the range of 0.3-10 kilowatts per square foot.

A cotton gin comprising a module feeder, a cotton dryer receiving cotton clumps from the module feeder, a separator/cleaner downstream from the cotton dryer and a plurality of gin stands receiving seed cotton from the separator/cleaner, the cotton dryer comprising

• a conduit adapted to pass seed cotton therethrough and a conveying system adapted to substantially continuously convey cotton through the conduit, and
• an array of electromagnetic wave energy generators in an energy distributing zone on the conduit applying electromagnetic wave energy to the cotton clumps at an energy density in the range of two tenths to six kilowatts of energy per pound of seed cotton.