Textiles are commonly made from intimate blends of polyester and cotton, which makes recycling of such textiles very difficult through mechanical means. We report the use of ionic liquid in the separation of polyester cotton blends. By selective dissolution of the cotton component, the polyester component can be separated and recovered in high yield. This finding presents as an environmentally benign approach to recycling textile blend waste

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre was the award-winning venue for the 16th Australian Cotton Conference which attracted more than 1500 representatives from the industry including cotton growers, researchers, agronomists, farming consultants, merchants and representatives from the Australian cotton industry. The biennial Conference is a joint venture between Cotton Australia and the Australian Cotton Shippers Association - two peak industry bodies who ensure best practice for Australian cotton production and export, and protect the interests of the industry by tracking and streamlining compliance, quality control, CSR and creating new market ventures

Fleabane has become increasingly problematic in the farming system due to its prolific seeding rate, ability to emerge in different seasons and tolerance to glyphosate. It is a major weed of rotations crops, fallows, channels, roads and even cotton. Diuron has become the herbicide of choice for controlling fleabane in the cotton system, but it is only a matter of time before resistance to diuron develops. A long term, whole farm integrated approach is needed to manage fleabane, effectively controlling it in all parts of the farming system with a range of tactics, not just relying on one herbicide

Standard techniques for monitoring conventional insecticide resistance in Helicoverpa armigera originally developed for broad-spectrum contact insecticides involved topical bioassays of insects in the F0 generation. However, limitations are associated with these techniques for monitoring resistance to newer selective products. This paper describes revised protocols for monitoring resistance to emamectin benzoate, chloranthraniliprole and indoxacarb including using F2 screens to identify non-dominant genes that may enhance survival. Additionally, the introduction of bioassay methods appropriate for products active by ingestion is also described. These protocols will increase capacity for isolating low frequency resistance which is difficult to detect using traditional monitoring techniques.

This paper communicates further the findings, pertaining to the John Deere 7760 (JD7760) round module picker, of the Cotton Growing Practices 2013 industry survey and current research at the National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture. The grower data is used to highlight decision making processes used and provides insight into potentially latent impacts on system components, particularly the land resource. Adoption drivers and considerations are discussed against machine potential, the Australian picker market and the potential for soil compaction is demonstrated to contrast considerations.

Questions, issues being addressed? * Verticillium wilt issues that NSW DPI Pathology in the project Diseases of Cotton XI have been and are continuing to look at. * Quantify the propagules of Verticillium in different field's soil. * Quantify the relationship between Verticillium inoculum and symptoms. * To find what the relationship between Verticillium and (soil/water) pH is. * To see the effect of different water sources (bore water compared to river water) on Verticillium wilt. * To see the effect of different irrigation systems (furrow compared to lateral irrigation) on Verticillium wilt. * Potential interaction between field levels of black root rot and Verticillium wilt. * Collection of reference cultures to determine VCG's present.

The Human Capacity Assessment and Benchmarking project is a system to gather data and provide an analysis tool to monitor the effectiveness of cotton industry extension and training activities. This will provide the industry with an effective tool to collect benchmarking data on changes in Human Capacity over time, thus better informing decisions about investment in extension and training.

Research undertaken by NSW DPI Pathology in the project Diseases of Cotton XI continues to ask questions with regard to pathogens causing diseases of cotton.

An innovative collaborative project run by NSW DPI Cotton Pathologist Dr Karen Kirkby and CSIRO Cotton Industry Education Officer Trudy Staines introduced students from year 10 Narrabri High School to possible career pathways within both science and agricultural fields. Students role-played different career options working as cameramen, script writers, interviewers and editors producing a short film covering the three careers. The career videos produced by kids for kids have been placed on the Narrabri and District Chamber of Commerce website

challenges suggest the need for research with cotton growers, distributers and participants in the production cycle, to understand what people think the future holds for the industry, and it's cotton communities. Combining social perspectives with economic and community development, this research can work with the industry to plan for both the challenges of the marketplace, and the challenge of maintaining community viability. While scientific research helps the cotton industry to achieve better production, social research can help the industry develop a plan for the future that strengthens the social fabric with cotton fibre.