Cotton was previously grown in the Ord during the 1960's and early 1970's. One major cause of the industry's demise was the development of insecticide resistance in Helicoverpa armigera (Heliothis). Although heliothis was not the major pest initially, pesticides targeting a range of other insects conferred resistance. Spray records indicate that whilst only 12 insecticide applications were required to grow the first crops, this rose to 21 sprays in 1971 and to an average of 40 sprays in the final season of 1974 (Michael and Woods 1980). As the development of genetically modified cotton (Ingard) progressed through the mid1990's, Department of Agriculture Western Australia, and Australian Cotton CRC scientists envisaged that it may be possible to develop a new cotton industry in the Ord. The new cotton industry would use integrated pest management (PM) and INGARD as the cornerstones of the system. Field trials evaluating PM systems commenced in 1996 and the first large scale trial(10-40ha) was conducted in 1997