The last year has seen a growing public concern over the use of chemical pesticides for the control of insect pests in cotton at a time when the Cotton Industry itself is still facing the real risk that these chemical

Numerous alternative control techniques have been available In various forms for many years. Unfortunately none of these alternatives have been regarded as practically or economically viable.

In New South Wales the relationship between the cotton industry and waterways is a feature of the industry.

As cotton is naturally sensitive to a range of herbicides used for the control of broadleaf weeds, post-emergence suppression of such weeds is limited to relatively inefficient lay-by herbicides and mechanical means i

The use of aircraft in agriculture in recent years has provoked much attention.

Plants encounter many environmental stresses such as droughts, flooding, extreme temperatures and high salt concentrations just to name a few.

I am delighted to have been asked to speak on this vital topic.

Okay, so what should I talk about?

Today's rising environmental consciousness is having a real influence on consumers' decision-making about their product purchases.

Again, as for previous conferences, we are providing an update of the ACCT results over the last two seasons. In both seasons 30 entries were tested at each of 12 sites (Warren, Breeza.

The affects of hail on the growing cotton crop will be well known to virtually all growers, as will the method of assessment which Is used in conjunction with the Australian Cotton Industry's Hail Insurance Schem

The fungal disease Verticillium wilt has been of sporadic importance in irrigated cotton for many years.

The Australian Cotton Foundation (ACF) was established in 1973 to promote cotton and the Australian industry. It was also seen as the appropriate body for internal education and industry representation.

The most outstanding features of recent seasons have been the relatively dry conditions experienced in most areas during growth and boll setting followed by unprecedently wet harvests.

To better understand the new Research and Development Corporation I feel it would be appropriate to review cotton research historical I y, as background lo the soon to be created corporation.

A disease can only occur when a virulent pathogen contacts a susceptible host under favourable environmental conditions. The incidence and severity of a disease reflects the occurence of these three factors.

The title of this discussion has a rather ominous ring to it as far as I am concerned.

Mycorrhizas are symbiotic associations between the roots of plants and fungi. They come into existence when the plant's root system becomes infected with an appropriate fungus.

Ecological genetics is the study of genetic changes and how these are influenced by the biological parameters of a species.

A problem involving leaf death and fall before all bolls are adequately developed, has occurred in cotton growing areas for some years. Early reports of this date back to at least 1981.