In recent times cotton growers have seen the need to adopt new land preparation practices. In the Macquarie Valley alone, only 35% of the 1987/88 cotton crop was prepared using conventional techniques. The swing away from conventional land preparation practices has largely been in response to economic factors. However, a further factor is the greater awareness growers have in relation to maintaining and improving their soils structure. Much of this awareness has been as a result of excellent research and extension programmes. In this paper l will be dealing with the research and technical inputs which have led to innovative land preparation practices.