As farming systems become more complex and the administrative burden grows, cotton farmers are not spending the time (and sometimes do not have the skills) to undertake high level climate, investment or business analysis for their cotton enterprises. Independent reviews and feasibility research are essential for growers and advisors considering practice change or capital investments in cotton farming businesses. Equipment suppliers often develop in-house feasibility with limited transparency on calculations / assumptions for a willing and sometimes unsuspecting consumer. Comprehensive peer review (including CottonInfo) of documentation and analysis underpins all outputs.

To make informed decisions, these analyses are essential. From 2017-2020, the following tasks were undertaken by CottonInfo’s Jon Welsh, in partnership with economist Janine Powell:

• Regular climate risk analysis via CottonInfo e-news, webinars and workshops to improve climate literacy of growers and advisors – allowing better management decisions to reduce climate risk and build industry resilience;

• Improved climate literacy was achieved by regular climate e-news including feature editions at winter and summer cropping decision points as well as webinars, face-to-face extension, presentations to industry and CCA and other novel approaches to messaging such as podcasts;

• Gross margin analysis of dry-land and irrigated cotton was broadened to include contracted operations and overhead irrigation scenarios. Key input analysis within the gross margins was also reported and extended. Industry budgets and analysis give current and new cotton growers a starting point to create their own budgets which can potentially lead to more informed cropping and input choices and a more profitable enterprise, business and industry.

• Energy efficiency extension for irrigators to build knowledge in what works and when. Improved energy literacy results in informed decision making for cotton growers. 5 large solar investments have been installed as a direct result of project extension material. These investments have improved energy efficiency and farm profitability through lower cost of energy. And also improved farm sustainability through lowered emissions.

• Resource efficiency analysis; limited irrigation water scenarios, incorporating renewables and energy technologies into irrigation systems, robotics in agriculture and, measuring practice change scenarios through dynamic gross margin analysis. The in-depth and targeted analysis conducted within the project were extended to the industry to inform cotton growers of the feasibility drivers for various new technologies and practice changes. Building this business knowledge in our industry can improve the return on investment capital creating a more profitable and sustainable cotton industry.