The purpose of this project was to purchase a refurbished precision planter for the University of Sydney's "Nowley" property, to allow for the planting of dryland cotton and sorghum, in particular. This precision planter adds significant capacity for varying seeding rates, depth of seed placement and planting timing, facilitating trial work in commercial crops.

The precision planter was delivered in September 2024 and was successfully used to plant the 2024/25 dryland cotton and sorghum crops at Nowley. A time-of-planting trial was carried out on a portion of the Box Paddock cotton crop due to the availability of the precision planter; in past seasons this has been difficult due to the limited availability of contractors.

The immediate benefit of this project is for the University of Sydney's farming operations at Nowley, where the availability of the precision planter will allow for more timely planting and a greater capacity for trial work.

In time, this benefit will flow through to the industry via the University carrying out trials, in commercial crops, of different planting timings, densities and depths. Part of the University's long-term plan is to disseminate findings of such trial work through field days and articles in grower publications (e.g. Australian Cottongrower).

The APVMA published the draft Paraquat Review Technical Report on 30 July 2024. That review proposed regulatory acceptable levels (RALs) for birds and mammals with the assessment focussing on acute risks to these organisms. Rate restrictions were established for different uses based on the acute risk assessment to birds and mammals. This review considers a number of aspects around the toxicity endpoints applied by the APVMA for birds and mammals and makes recommendations based on refined avian acute toxicity endpoints and using more appropriate Australian specific mammalian model species.

1. Pesticide targets – we used our expertise in IPM and information on environmental impacts of chemical use to understand potential drivers and examined alternative approaches that considered the future risks (availability, resistance, export markets) of control options. The analysis scrutinised chemicals that are the prime contributors to high insecticide levels in the environment. We worked with NSW DPIRD and the CCA to understand the national context across farming systems and considered spatial/geographical patterns. The highest risk pest-chemical use cases (Fipronil, Sulfoxaflor, Phorate) informed a review of alternative control options that included in its scope digital tools to improve, for example, pest detection and monitoring. The landscape analysis can be used to inform regional/AWM approaches.

2. Mirid management – we reviewed past mirid research in cotton and other crops and considered current mirid management practices in the systems context. We carried out damage and compensation experiments to look for evidence of crop tolerance to mirids. Modelling approaches using historical data or data from other crops were used to see if they could assist with predicting influxes and informing management decisions. We identified research gaps and areas that required core science research.

3. Impact of insecticides and miticides on predators, parasitoids and bees in cotton – we assessed the value of work to date using impact analysis and considered its potential application across commodities. We considered potential research partners and contributors who may have an interest in and benefit from this work. We reviewed the methodology with respect to efficiencies and impact including assessing its potential translation into other crops.

4. We investigated mirid damage research gaps – we carried out three field experiments to better understand the mirid number: crop damage relationship as well as the interaction that mirids have with lucerne and how that could affect damage levels in cotton. This work assisted in validating mirid spray thresholds. We also carried out mirid population experiments and assessed boll and lint damage and yield and maturity. This experiment answered the question about the effect of early or below threshold sprays on mirid population buildup.

5. Shield bugs are of concern to the industry and we improved our understanding of shield bug ecology and management in preparation for shield bug incursions. A Hemiptera identification workshop trained staff to identify BSMS more reliably. Heimoana attended the Annual Plant Surveillance Workshop to gain new knowledge on BMSB surveying techniques. We attempted twice to work with consultants to monitoring shield bugs in Gwydir cotton fields. Regretfully both attempts failed as objectives and time commitments differed.

6. Future work towards the Cotton Pest Management Guide Impacts on beneficials guide focused on novel compounds for sucking and lepidoptera pest control. Pesticides tested for one season were tentatively placed into Table 6 of the CPMG.

The Autumn 2025 edition of Spotlight introduces a new era for CottonInfo, which remains a joint partnership of CRDC, Cotton Australia and Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD), but under a new structure, with CRDC leading and managing the program, Cotton Australia supporting through myBMP, and CSD as a key program investor. In this edition, we outline the changes to CottonInfo, and in the next edition, we'll be introducing you to CRDC and CottonInfo's new crop of Regional Extension Officers (REOs). 

We're also pleased to bring you an update on the cotton industry data platform, led by CRDC. Throughout the stories in this edition, you will see how the data platform will link to every aspect of our industry, from marketing to emissions reporting. 

Soil health and low emissions farming are also featured in this edition, with articles on the new Low Emissions Intensity Farming Systems project, long-term studies into soil health and carbon, sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions reporting. And we feature two great innovative grower stories: Jamie and Susie Grant, who've developed a unique dryland farming system, and Richie Quigley, who has implemented a strip and disc system to improve soil health and water retention.

Each year, Crop Consultants Australia - with support from CRDC - conduct a qualitative survey of cotton consultants regarding their practices and attitudes, as well as those of their cotton grower clients. The resulting report provides valuable information to the Australian cotton industry regarding on-farm practices , helping to benchmark the industry's performance in a range of key areas over time. This report, published in March 2025, looks at the 2023-24 cotton growing season.

Background

Smarter Irrigation for Profit is a national collaborative research, development and extension project involving sixteen partners, four commodities and nineteen farmer learning sites. It aims to enable irrigators to improve their productivity and profit. It is part of the Australian Government’s Rural Research and Development for Profit program.

Sub-projects within Smarter Irrigation for Profit are focused on irrigation scheduling technologies, and precise, low cost, automation for a range of irrigation systems. A national network of farmer-managed learning sites, located in major irrigation regions and referred to as “optimised irrigation” farms, provides irrigators with practical demonstrations of the research. 

The project is based on the premise that improving the application, scheduling and automation of irrigation will reduce costs (such as labour and energy) and increase water productivity, resulting in increased profit. Sustainability outcomes, such as less deep drainage and water-logging, are expected as longer term consequences.

This knowledge harvest report integrates information from across the sub-projects in Smarter Irrigation for Profit into a comprehensive body of knowledge. 

There is interest from growers to evaluate the suitability of flood irrigation automation concepts in commercialise irrigation systems. The trial included commercial comparisons between lateral, drip and automated siphon and bankless systems. The priorities were to maintain or improve water-use efficiency, reduce the labour and energy requirements and to identify a system which is cost effective for broad scale adoption by industry.

The project had provided an additional set of system comparison data which reaffirms previous findings that irrigation efficiency is influenced more by the seasonal conditions than it is by the system being used.

The project has demonstrated that the installation of on farm broadband systems will significantly improve the reliability and speed of internet connectivity, something that is of increasing importance as irrigators move towards automation.

The initial steps towards automated flood irrigation have shown that there are challenges and the selection of the right equipment in important. The installation of smart siphons demonstrated that this could be cost effectively achieved, but that there were different approached which could be made. The project also demonstrated that a gradual progression towards automation was possible using the smart siphon and associated management system.

Previous research into the nitrogen (N) nutrition of cotton has primarily focused on the mineral N pool, particularly nitrate, due to its association with synthetic fertilisers. However, it is known that between 40% and 70% of a cotton plant’s N uptake is sourced from the soil pool, which is mostly organic in nature. Current understanding is that nitrate and ammonium are taken-up by the cotton plant following ammonification and nitrification of the soil organic N pool. However, recent advances made by CSIRO towards improving the understanding of the biogeochemistry and dynamics in the soil-plant system of the organic N pool, coupled with a growing recognition of the ability of plants to directly access some forms of organic N, highlighted that the organic N pool may play a significant role in the nutrition of cotton. An implication of this is that soil N is currently only managed from a mineral N perspective whereas with the correct tools and analytical techniques it may be possible to achieve significant improvements in N use efficiency through clearer understanding of the contribution of the organic N pool to cotton N nutrition.

The work conducted as part of this project aimed to address current gaps in knowledge and understanding of the role of organic N in the nutrition of cotton by focusing upon the following objectives and research questions:

1. To determine the importance of the organic N pool relative to nitrate and ammonium for cotton nutrition,
2. To determine the impact of soil type on uptake of organic N relative to nitrate and for cotton nutrition,
3. In high-performance soils, does the organic N pool influence fertiliser N use efficiency?
4. Is uptake of organic N a general phenomenon in cotton or is the relative uptake of nitrate, ammonium, organic N variety-specific, and  
5. To determine the influence of soil testing protocols on observed soil N forms.

It was further hypothesised that:

1. both inorganic and organic N forms would be accessed by all cotton varieties on the two soil types investigated, but that a preference for nitrate over both organic N and ammonium would be more greatly expressed in plants grown in clay-richer and thus sorbent soil, and 
2. modern cotton varieties would also express greater preference for nitrate over organic N compounds than older varieties, as their breeding and genetic engineering will have targeted inorganic nitrogen-rich systems. 

A series of interconnected experiments were conducted over three years at the field, glasshouse and laboratory-scales that included soils with varying clay content, three cotton genotypes (a pre-Bt variety, and two Bollgard® 3 lines), and labelled carbon (13C) and nitrogen (15N) techniques, coupled with novel extraction and analytical approaches.

This project investigated the interplay between consumer motivations, fibre sustainability, and the environmental impact of textiles, with a focus on Australian cotton and competing fibres, including emerging sustainable and recycled options. The study addresses the growing consumer demand for transparency and ethical practices while highlighting the limitations of current tools like life-cycle analyses (LCA) and the Higg Material Sustainability Index (MSI) when applied to new and legacy fibres. Challenges such as a scarcity of data related to textile processing, consumer wear and washing behaviours and end-of-life disposal, uncertainties in impact assessment, and the lack of industry standards underscore the need for more robust methodologies. Through scenario analysis, the research has evaluated fibre production, processing, and end-of-life practices, emphasizing the potential for circularity. A formal choice experiment (CE) survey linking technical assessments with market preferences was conducted to further assess consumer’s willingness to pay for sustainability attributes.
Three peer review papers have been written. The first describes research that underscores the importance of sustainability in consumer decisions and the textile industry. A willingness to pay (WTP) study revealed a majority (>60%) of Australian consumers were willing to pay a premium for cotton t-shirts with sustainable certifications, highlighting the economic value of environmental and ethical features. A research paper has also critiqued existing LCA frameworks for their inadequacy in assessing circular textile systems, advocating for expanded methodologies to address circular economy principles. And a third paper applied LCA to Australian cotton, exploring circularity strategies like recycling and extended garment lifespan while identifying consumer behaviour during the use phase as a critical determinant of environmental outcomes. Collectively, the findings advance knowledge on fibre sustainability, bridging technical insights and consumer behaviour to support a transition towards more transparent, circular, and responsible textile practices.

The strip and disc farming system is intended to maximise crop residue by reducing disturbance to crop material resulting in delayed decomposition. From the research and findings observed while travelling as well as experiences on the authors own farm (due to travel restrictions from Covid19), it can be concluded that the strip and disc farming system will increase ground cover and crop residue on the soil surface when compared to traditional zero tillage farming systems. With this comes a range of benefits including increasing infiltration and storage of rainfall and increasing water use efficiency to grow more crop per drop. This will increase 
profitability of farmers, particularly in moisture limited environments. The system is not without its challenges, but these can be overcome with management techniques and agronomic advice. More research must be done to quantify the benefits as well as an 
economic analysis to provide clear economic benefits. The strip and disc system is compatible with sprinkler and drip irrigated cotton, as well as dryland cotton production by increasing moisture storage and water use efficiency profitability, but not with conventional furrow irrigation due to the tillage requirements of the system.