These regional extension positions are a part of the Cotton CRC National Cotton Extension Team which has worked on an industry‐wide scale to take a knowledge management approach to deliver grower focused, participatory adoption and extension programmes. The project commenced in February 2007 with two regional extension officer positions on the Darling Downs based at Dalby and in the Border Rivers region based at Goondiwindi. It had been preceded by a QDPI&F funded extension position at Dalby from which Greg Salmond had transferred in September 2006 and an industry funded extension position at Goondiwindi from which Rebecca Smith resigned in June 2006.

The project was established in accordance with the 2005 Industry Extension Review with the two regional positions included in the one project in a co funded partnership between Cotton CRC/CRDC and QPIF. Salary costs have been shared on a 50:50 basis with operational funds provided by industry and overhead costs funded by QPIF.

A rigorous recruitment program resulted in the commencement of the new extension

officers, Kate Charleston at Dalby and Rod Gordon at Goondiwindi in February 2007. Both officers became well established during 2007 having initiated and conducted a broad range of extension activities according to well developed regional and national extension plans. Regional priorities and needs were identified, prioritised and incorporated in work plans in collaboration with growers, consultants and other extension officers. Unfortunately, both officers vacated their positions in May 2008. Kate Charleston transferred to an insect IPM extension position in QPIF and Rod Gordon resigned to accept the offer of a grower relationship and marketing position with Auscott Gwydir after a short but very successful tenure at Goondiwindi.

Following extensive discussion between CRDC and QPIF relating to the turnover of staff, the recruitment of new officers was deferred pending a review of the extension officer roles to consider the issue of staff retention for the longer term. The development and agreement on a Discussion Paper during 2008 led to the recruitment for the Darling Downs position being implemented in November 2008 and the appointment of Duncan Weir in April 2009 based in Toowooomba. A new project proposal was conditionally approved by CRDC in April 2009 for commencement on July 1, 2009. Accordingly, a formal review based on facilitated conducted by Ewan Colquhoun in June 2009 has been completed.

Interim arrangements for the maintenance of the project were implemented in October 2008 when Ingrid Rencken was appointed on a temporary parttime basis from October 1 to June 30 to maintain essential project activities.

Duncan Weir is rapidly establishing his regional extension role in the project since

commencing in April 2009. He has maintained the regional Cotton Tales newsletters,

completed the NUE site sampling and participated in a range of industry activities whilst

establishing working relationships with growers, consultants and industry organisations.

The extent of achievement against each of the objectives has been constrained by the mid season commencement and short fourteen month tenure of the appointed extension officers.Sound regional extension plans were developed and implemented in both regions for the 07/08 year following consultation with the regional reference panels including growers from the regional cotton grower association and consultants. In the absence of full time officers in 08/09, essential elements form the plans were addressed by Ingrid Rencken with support from Jenelle Hare, David Kelly and project superviser, Geoff McIntyre.

Both extension officers applied a range of extension delivery methods during 07/08.

However, they both experienced considerable difficulty in engaging significant numbers of growers given the dry season which, combined with low prices for cotton and higher grain returns, resulted in significantly reduced cotton plantings in both regions and substantially tempered grower interest and enthusiasm in many industry activities.The difficult 07/08 seasonal conditions limited opportunities for collaborative field activities quite substantially such that the extension effort was focussed on whole of region approaches particularly through Cotton Tales newsletter, and development of information resources.

Project team members including Kate Charleston, Rod Gordon, Ingrid Rencken, Duncan

Weir, Jenelle Hare and Geoff McIntyre established a strong collaborative partnership with Cotton Australia contributing considerable support to the development of the industry BMP program with Bec Smith and Louise Adcock. Technical information delivery has been in the context of industry best practice providing support to the BMP program. There is a challenge for stronger engagement with growers, consultants and agribusiness in the regional extension program. The plan is for a more strategic engagement especially with growers on an individual or small group basis for specific purposes to address regional priority issues through the implementation of field demonstration trials to evaluate and adapt new technologies. This could result in a reinvigoration of area wide management groups. The implementation of industry BMP provides an ideal framework in which to deliver these strategies in collaboration with the Cotton Australia Regional managers. The existing strong partnerships with consultants and agribusiness must be maintained and enhanced.