The Women’s Industry Network, Cotton (Wincott) received a research grant from the Cotton

Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) in 2010 to develop a survey to canvass rural

women’s opinions on natural resource management (NRM) issues and, subsequently, their ideas on

the cotton industry’s new myBMP program. The first survey was initiated at the Wincott Annual

General Meeting (AGM) at the Australian Cotton Conference in August 2010.

The second survey, conducted in 2012, was initiated at the Wincott AGM at the 2012 Australian

Cotton Conference, with 54 attendees completing the survey using ‘Turning Point’, (an instant

PowerPoint survey). The survey was subsequently sent out to the women on the Wincott database,

with 78 hard copy and 19 on-line survey responses received, making a total of 151 responses. The

survey was followed up with four focus group meetings, with 54 attendees in total.

The drought had been over for two years at the time of the 2012 survey; however, quite a number of

cotton-growing regions had significant flood events in that time. There have also been issues of

labour availability since the drought broke and many farm staff have not been replaced. This has

resulted in either more family members taking up more farm-work and/or inexperienced backpackers

filling the gaps. It has also meant that initiatives on the farm considered to be ‘extras’, that

is, not core production issues, have not been implemented. The net result is that labour-saving

innovations have almost been forced upon some farms.

This report summarises the findings of the 2012 survey and associated focus groups. Its purpose is

to determine which, if any, NRM measures were implemented in the two years following the first

survey and whether NRM attitudes had changed. It is intended as a tool to help determine what

women are doing or can do for the industry and what the industry can do for them.

Focus group discussions were held in four different cotton-growing regions in winter of 2013, to

enrich the information obtained through the other survey methods. Many relevant NRM and related

issues were raised and explored at these meetings. (Refer to pages 7& 20-28 ). Three of the four

focus group meetings also had a Workplace Health and Safety speaker, courtesy of Cotton

Australia. Combining the two issues, rather than holding two separate meetings, suited many of the

women.

It is pleasing to note that as a result of the previous survey, and increasing awareness of the value

of an organisation like Wincott, more industry organisations are interested in the opinions of women

on farms and how they can benefit mutually. This is evidenced by more representatives from various

organisations attending Wincott functions and seeking the results of these surveys.

It was notable that all respondents to the second survey chose their answers selectively where they

believed they had something to say, which implies that a good deal of thought had been given to

their responses. This appears to have clear implications for the reliability of the survey.