The Australian Cotton Comparative Analysis provides the industry benchmark for the economics of cotton growing in Australia. The report focuses on the economics of the 2017 crop from growers across the different cotton-growing valleys. It also presents trends that have been measured against more than ten years of data, and, for the second year, includes per bale figures.

The Cotton Comparative Analysis is a joint initiative of CRDC and Boyce Chartered Accountants.

This travel scholarship funded the 10th Australasian Soilborne Disease Symposium. The aim of the symposium was to hold a forum and an interactive environment where national and international experts provide new insights in disease control for researchers, students and agricultural industry representatives including cotton and broad acre crops. The theme of the symposium was 'Paddock to Plates' with an emphasis on delivering the new knowledge to practitioners and at the same time to better harness the new scientific tools for the development of effective management options.

Boron and Potassium have overlapping roles to play in plant physiology and hence are synergistic. Like Potassium, Boron is also involved in some aspect of flowering and fruiting processes, pollen germination, cell division, nitrogen metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, active salt absorption, hormone movement and action, water metabolism and the water relations in plants.

The presence of high levels of sodium in the soil (which is common in most cotton growing areas) is determinantal to the growth of any crop. This is due to reverse osmosis created due to high negative water potential around the rhizosphere. This leads to desiccation of plants and improper or highly reduced mineral and water uptake due to the impact on the roots. This will have its adverse effect on the total photosynthetic potential of the plants causing yield and quality decline.

This trial has been conducted in collaboration with the CRDC and leading cotton grower, Vitonga Pty Ltd in identifying why some paddocks are producing 16 bales/Ha of cotton and on the same farm, other paddocks drop off to 11-12 bales/Ha under the same management practices.

In soil analysis, the paddocks producing 16 bale crops consistently, the Potassium:Sodium ratio is believed to be a critical factor impacting the yield. In those high yielding paddocks, the ratio in meq/100g soil for the Potassium:Sodium ratio was 2:1, while in field 7 where the trial was conducted, the ratio was 1.05:1 (ideal would be 1.4:1). In addition, soil analysis found that the Calcium:Boron ratio at in field 7 was 4038:1. This Calcium:Boron ratio indicates a significant Boron deficiency exists in the soil.

This project funded a farm based replicated trial on an irrigated cotton property north of Moree with three main aims. Firstly, the research sought to establish the effect of high Potassium application during cropping on yield caused by high Sodium levels to Potassium levels and early senescence of cotton growth.

Secondly, to look at impacts of increased enzyme urease activity in the soil at planting to stimulate soil health and counteract nematode effect on plant growth to encourage better Nitrogen efficiency.

The third research aim examined the effect of Boron application (slow release before plant) with high Potassium application and the effect on yield when soil health is increased measuring Nitrogen efficiency and yields.

The project outputs included;

*Yield Improvement by measuring Yield

*Quality Improvement by Lint Quality

*Soil Health Sustainability- OmniBio Assessment as composite samples of individual treatments.

*Soil Nutrition Sustainability- Better Potash Levels and managing High Sodium effect of Increase Osmotic Pressure in the plant-sap.

*Plant Physiology Improvements- evaluate the effect of Stress Reducing Foliar on the 5 Soil applied Treatments.

The Beltwide Cotton Conferences are held every year, in early January. The conferences attract producers, industry personnel (marketers, ginners, etc.) research, extension and agribusiness participants from around the cotton growing areas of the United States of America (US) cotton belt.

PICSE continues to expand.

*In 2012, discussions are well advanced with three new tertiary partners (University of Western

Sydney, SARDI Food Centre and Northern Melbourne Institute of Technology) with the outcomes being the establishment of a fourth Activity Centre in NSW and the first one in Victoria. In addition, a partnership has just been signed by two significant other investors in the PICSE program, Cotton RDC and Meat and Livestock Australia (RDC)

* PICSE continued to deliver the program in 10 Activity Centres in 2011, with 5 potential new universities (CSU-second centre, University of Ballarat, University of Sydney, CDU, JCU), ready to join the current university partners with signing-up depending upon Federal Government funding from HEPPP. Applications for HEPPP funding are expected to be open in July/August.

University and non-university organisations have given a commitment to invest or are interested in growing the PICSE program through to 2014 because:

* PICSE is not only an awareness program for science but, more importantly, is an experiential strategy that changes the aspirations, study and career directions of students in a sustainable way

* PICSE delivers innovative engagement programs for student and teachers making science relevant and exciting, hence encouraging students into tertiary science and careers in industry

* PICSE is a rigorously evaluated and long term program which is sufficiently flexible to deliver customised outcomes to each investor

* PICSE has a track record of attitudinal change and increased participation in science based primary industry pathways.

* New relationships and partners are critical for the ongoing development and longer-term sustainability of PICSE.

31 May 2012 Cotton CDC – Project Number 3.04.12 CRC1016 Page 1 of 6

2011/12 was a year of milestone events for PICSE. A selection of the highlights include:

* The formation of the PICSE National Advisory Board with eminent university leader and

internationally recognised agriculturist, Professor Alan Robson as Chair.

* A hugely successful mid-year Canberra forum. Titled “Positions Vacant: Young Scientists Wanted for

Future Food Security”, the event canvassed a range of views from industry, government, R&D’s, teachers, universities and students. The outcomes paper is attached as Appendix 1. National media coverage was extensive in both print and radio syndication.

* Two very important partnerships were formalised in 2011. These included a selection of joint projects between PICSE and Agrifood Skills Australia (AFSA), and the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA), who will deliver against joint objectives and further enhance collaboration and industry benefit.

* The very exciting development of the web-based version of the popular Science Investigation Awards (SIA). The new program called “Science for Growth” will build on the 2400 students from across Australia who participated in the SIAs in 2011 and allow more students and teachers (city, rural and remote) to be involved.

At the commencement of the PICSE Project, an independent measurement, evaluation and reporting company (QualDATA) was outsourced to establish an evaluation process to provide an annual synthesis of data which could be used to inform progress reports for DEEWR. Each year, every participant of every PICSE activity was surveyed to collect qualitative and quantitative data. This data is collated for each Activity Centre (linked with a University) and then combined into a national report covering the effectiveness of the process and impact of the program. In 2011, a comparison has been made between the 2009, 2010 and 2011 programs, in addition to comparing the effect of the program across all partner universities.

This project has provided valuable information on both the management of key pest species and management of flooded cotton for the cotton industry during the period 2010-2012. Specifically, the information was provided to address important issues as they arose, supplementing information contained in the Cotton Pest Management Guide and the Australian Cotton Production Manual.

Aphid abundance increased during the 2011/12 season due to host prevalence following above average rainfalls across cotton growing areas. this caused a grat deal of concern throughout the industry as Cotton Bunchy Top virus had been widespread during the 2010/11 season and as aphids are the vector for this disease, the probability of a major CBT outbreak was high. Three Cotton Tales addressing aphid management and CBT disease were prepared by this project providing industry with detailed management information.

Apple Dimpling Bugs were problematic early in 2011/12 season. Also known as yellow mirids, growers were unclear as to whether these insects were likely to require control. Apple Dimpling bugs have the potential to damage seedling cotton, however, they are also useful predators of Helicoverpa eggs and mites. In low numbers, they are unlikely to cause a yield reduction but may cause pin squares to be shed and as numbers increase could affect yields particularily in short season areas. A Cotton Tale was produced by Julie Wise in conjuction with this project to provide management guidance.

Broadmites, typically a rare pest of cotton and more normally found in tropical/subtropical areas, were observed in high numbers during the 2011/12 season. This was primarily thought to be due to the high humidity experienced throughout much of the season, as well as the very high rainfall experienced. Broadmites are difficult to control in cotton as there are no acaricides currently registered for their control. However, incidental control of Broadmites has been observed when growers applied abamectin for control of two spotted mite. Additionally, petroleum spray oils provide additional control of a range of mites and insect pests.

Significant flooding occurred throughout many cotton growing valleys late in the 2011/12 season. this presented enormous challenges to the industry, particularily as cotton was at such a late developmental stage and thus management options were limited. this project led to the development of a four page management brochure in conjunction with leading industry scientists, Mike Bange, Lewis Wilson, Ian Rochester, Paul Grundy, Steve Yeates and Graham Charles, reviewing physiological responses, nutrition, pest and weeds issues that may need to be addressed following such an event.

Silverleaf Whitefly also becam problematic late season 2011/12. The build up of SLW at this time in the season was atypical and primarily resulted in the movement of adults into late maturing crops following control of alternate hosts(weeds) in fallow fields when rainfall events began to diminish. Guidelines for SLW control published in the Cotton Pest Management Guide primarily use the threshold matrix to predict expected population increase resulting from resident populations. Because SLW numbers in this case were primarily coming from non-resident populations, the same set of assumptions hence control recommendations were no longer applicable. A Cotton Tale and subsequent article published in the Australian Cotton Grower Magazine were developed with key scientists Lewis Wilson, Richard Sequeira and Paul Grundy to address this challenging problem.

This project has delivered on two key areas. The first, providing a regional extension focus delivering cutting edge, emerging research information, extension support and information on major production issues and the promotion and adoption of best practice to growers, consultants and industry service providers. The second key area of delivery, focuses delivering national outcomes in the target lead area of soil health and crop nutrition in cotton production systems.

This project has established strong linkages and collaborations between growers, consultants, researchers, servicer providers and industry representatives and government allowing the unhindered flow of information between all key stakeholders. This has successfully delivered information and support on issues including, but not restricted to, crop nutrition, soil health, mealybug, Cotton Bunchy Top, IPM, fusarium, , compaction, waterlogging and government support programs. The project supported the development, implementation and adoption of national programs particularly the industry Best Management Practice program, myBMP. It o provided input into industry information products and tools including the Cotton Pest Management Guide, Australian Cotton Production Manual and Symptoms Guide.

Having a national focus on Soil Health and Crop Nutrition, the project promoted importance and increased the awareness of soil health and crop nutrition as a critical management component in cotton production. The re-established soil health and crop nutrition working group, nitrogen management and nitrogen use efficiency, the promotion of soil and tissue testing, P, K and S research, carbon in cotton systems and the use of Nutrilogic as a critical management tools were all part of the industry wide program supporting and assisting growers in achieving a sustainable viable cotton industry.

The success of this project has played its role in overall success of the Cotton Development and Delivery Team supporting the Cotton Industry during a very difficult period for the industry as a whole.

The result of this project is that Cotton Seed Distributors will form a Joint Venture with CRDC and Cotton Australia to; as explained by Bruce Finney CEO of CRDC, “ Build on and expand the resources to the Development and Delivery Team and myBMP” . This result of ongoing support and increased resource allocation is only possible due to the proven value to the cotton industry of this project commissioned by Cotton CRC.

The key message here is that this collaborative approach which involves collaboration between;

• Cotton Industry Research capability

• Commercial suppliers, • Agribusiness, and

• Crop Consultants

In the development and delivery of Resources and practice change is successful and will have ongoing support after the conclusion of Cotton CRC on 30 June 2012.

There is an increasing use of spreaders for application of urea in the cotton industry. In fact 75% of growers apply granular fertiliser (eg Urea) pre-plant, at planting and in-crop up to flowering (CRDC Cotton Growing Practices 2016). However, a single pass of a broadcast spreader produces an uneven application. Overlapping the spread pattern can improve the uniformity, but the distance between machinery runs to provide the overlap (the bout width) cannot be determined accurately without proper testing.

Uneven application means that parts of the field are being under fertilised, while other parts are being over fertilised, often visible to the eye with a striping pattern across a crop. The performance testing and calibration of a fertiliser spreader is as important as the calibration of spray rigs.

The Australian Fertilisers Services Association and the Australian Fertiliser Industries FertCare initiative have developed Accu-Spread. This involves independent testing and accreditation of fertiliser spreading equipment. Following accreditation, a grower will know the capacity of the spreader to apply urea to industry standards. This means growers will have more confidence in applying an accurate rate, improving the efficiency of fertiliser use and avoiding the patchy, uneven patterns often visible from untested spreaders.

Darren Hart, Cotton Operations Manager, Keytah called CottonInfo to discuss the opportunity to hold a field day in the Moree region looking at spreader testing. He assisted with planning and reviewed the field day program, hosted the Moree Spreader field day and attended the second field day at Bellata.