Cotton farmers have been adapting and changing their farming systems for as long as cotton has been grown. New machinery, new technology and streamlined management have all assisted in this process.

VAM are important in the growth of cotton and the production of lint. VAM are a normal part of cotton plants and they are usually present in the roots. Only in their absence do we realise their importance.

Determining the level of insect infestation which causes economic damage (yield loss or significant crop maturity delays), is no simple task.

Australian cotton production relies heavily on the use of pesticides for control of Helicoverpa spp. As a result insecticide resistance has become a major problem (Daly and Paschalidis 1994).

The future of agriculture in Australia depends on the type of people who are in the cotton industry. The future depends on a professional & aggressive approach to the business of farming, prepared for change.