Bringing you the latest comments from our team, via our CottonInfo blog.

The Australian Cotton Enterprise Non-Technical Guide for New Entrants is now available to all Australian cotton growers.

The Guide takes the highlights of the three SHIFT Guides for New Entrants.

The resource gives cotton growers a great induction resource to ensure new entrants know the mindsets and skills needed to adapt to their new role and workplace.

You can access the Guide here.

2023/24 Disease Survey Results for NSW cotton growing areas are available now.

Download your copy here.

NSW DPI weed researchers Eric Koetz (CottonInfo Technical Lead for Weed Management) and Graham Charles have just returned from the Northern Territory and the Ord region of WA after conducting a baseline weed survey of cotton crops.

The trip was part of a CRDC funded project (DAN2302) to gain a better understanding of current weed numbers in fields. To develop a “site specific” crop management plan for cotton grown in Norther Australia there is a need to identify any weed issues and concerns growers are facing in their fields. This was the second visit to the area to survey fields and…

What’s your background?

I grew up on the Darling Downs on grain growing property (wheat/sorghum/sunflowers) and a few cattle.  I studied Biology at the University of Southern Queensland and followed that later with post graduate entomology studies at University of Queensland. I worked in the entomology group on various projects, on pests including helicoverpa, aphids and whitefly in grain and cotton.

How did you end up in Cotton Research?

In the early years I worked in and out of the cotton industry in response to pest issues, I was fortunate to receive a CRDC…

It has been reported this season that some cotton fields have had issues with residual herbicide carryover with symptoms ranging from poor establishment, slow early growth or the need to re-plant. The function of residual herbicides is to provide a barrier to weed emergence by preventing weed seeds present in the soil from germinating. Some herbicides can remain active in the soil for weeks, months or years. This can be an advantage as it ensures good long term weed control. However, if the herbicide stays in the soil longer than intended it may damage sensitive crop or pasture species…

More than 2,400 grain and cotton growers and spray contractors across QLD and NSW have signed on to a world-first, Australian-developed weather data system to help minimise spray drift and limit the damage it causes to food and fibre crops and the environment.

Spray drift has long been recognised as a significant, multimillion-dollar problem for agriculture. This is highlighted by the recently published CRDC Grower Survey, 2023, which reported a staggering one in two cotton growers being impacted by spray drift, with a devastating impact – on average – of over $250,000 for each…

After an extensive recruitment process, Dr Janelle Montgomery has been named as the new Program Lead for the Australian cotton industry’s extension program, CottonInfo.

An industry leader in her own right, Janelle is a familiar and trusted face, having been part of the CottonInfo team since its establishment in 2012; first as a Technical Lead for water use efficiency, then taking on the Regional Extension Officer (REO) role in the Gwydir Valley in 2017.

Based in Moree, Janelle has managed the REO team for the past five years, and said she feels incredibly…

It’s that time of year again and planning is underway for the 2024 CottonInfo calendar.

As water use efficiency gains continue to exceed expectations (recent research results showing near 100% improvement on water benchmarking) while industry works to balance a forecast El Nino in the coming seasons, we’ve decided that the focus of the 2024 calendar will be WATER.

So we’re putting a call out for your favourite water shots from cotton paddocks and cotton growing valleys.

This might be your perfect irrigation row, your new bankless set-up or a spectacular sunrise or…

After nine years as Program Manager for the Australian cotton industry's joint extension program - CottonInfo - Warwick Waters will finish in the role at the end of the month.

Since its inception in 2012, the CottonInfo program team has grown from just nine to today having more than 20 experts working to connect cotton growers, agronomists and industry with research and development outcomes.

Warwick said he was incredibly proud of the outcomes achieved by the CottonInfo team during his tenure.

“From the nearly 100 on-farm trials we’ve run…

As of mid-December 2022, spray drift has been reported in a number of cotton regions. With harvest almost done and fallow sprays in the coming weeks it is critical we do what we can to prevent any further spray drift across all valleys.

With thanks to CottonInfo Regional Extension Officers, an update and resource PDF has been compiled for cotton grower reference.

The December 2022 Spray Drift Update and Resources document includes: