Current Issue

June-July 2022

Production, marketing and topical articles for the Australian Cotton industry.

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Feature Articles

Reducing water evaporation on farm dams: A new approach

Evaporation from water storages on farms remains a significant issue for irrigators and cotton growers in many regions of Australia and around the world. Across the Australian cotton industry on average a quarter, and as high as half the water from irrigation dams is lost due to evaporation.

Black root rot gets a new name

The black root rot (BRR) disease is caused by Thielaviopsis basicola (also known as Chalara elegans). T. basicola is a wide host range soilborne fungus and is characterised by production of two spore types – thin-walled endoconidia and dark thick-walled chlamydospores. Over 170 plant species have been recorded as hosts of the fungus.

Cotton Conference program taking shape as numbers build

While wet weather may have hampered picking across many of the cotton valleys, high prices and good water security has organisers expecting a record number of delegates at this year’s Cotton Conference. To be held on the Gold Coast from August 16 to 18.

Over The Back Fence

2021 Cotton Grower of the Year and High Achiever of the Year

The Australian cotton industry’s top performers for 2021 have been announced in front of industry peers at one of the best attended field days in northern New South Wales. The Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year for 2021 is Quigley Farms at Trangie in the Macquarie Valley. The winner of the AgriRisk High Achiever of the year is Ashley Geldard from Columboola Cotton near Miles in the Western Downs of Queensland.

FastStart Cotton Establishment Award winners

The winners of this year’s dryland category are Will and Ben Coulton of ‘Mullala’ at Boggabilla. Will and Ben achieved a Planter Uniformity Index (PUI) of 0.271 and 95.9% establishment rate. In the irrigated category the winner is Terry Ryan of ‘Milla-Lee’ at Bowenville. Judges were impressed with his 0.034 PUI and 95.8% establishment rate.

Double the celebrations for Australian Cotton Industry in 2022

Australian cotton growers will have double the reason to celebrate in 2022 with nominations called for this year’s awards while the 2021 winners and nominees will be recognised for their excellence after a year of COVID disruption.

Baby boom for waterbirds

The current wet and plentiful conditions at the Macquarie Marshes in New South Wales provide the perfect platform for the highly distinctive Intermediate egrets to breed, with an expected baby bird boom in 2022. Other species of egrets as well as ibis, herons and cormorants are also prevalent in a significant bird breeding event not seen for several years.

2022 Australian Cotton Conference“Here for Good”

After a few years of disruptions due to the pandemic the Australian Cotton Conference is back in 2022 with a program expected to engage, challenge and unite the industry at time of great opportunity and change. To be held in person on Queensland’s Gold Coast from 16-18 August the program will centre around the theme “Here for Good”