A raising of the quality base and increasing levels of discounts impact significantly on the profitability of dryland cotton. CSIRO has research in place that not only aims to improve the yield of dryland cotton varieties, but also fibre quality and disease resistance. Fibre length is the quality trait that is most influenced by the water stress that dryland crops experience at some point during the season, but micronaire is also influenced to a degree. Data is presented on some commercial varieties well suited to dryland production, as well as some examples of future varieties that may be released over the next few years.