PICSE continues to expand.

*In 2012, discussions are well advanced with three new tertiary partners (University of Western

Sydney, SARDI Food Centre and Northern Melbourne Institute of Technology) with the outcomes being the establishment of a fourth Activity Centre in NSW and the first one in Victoria. In addition, a partnership has just been signed by two significant other investors in the PICSE program, Cotton RDC and Meat and Livestock Australia (RDC)

* PICSE continued to deliver the program in 10 Activity Centres in 2011, with 5 potential new universities (CSU-second centre, University of Ballarat, University of Sydney, CDU, JCU), ready to join the current university partners with signing-up depending upon Federal Government funding from HEPPP. Applications for HEPPP funding are expected to be open in July/August.

University and non-university organisations have given a commitment to invest or are interested in growing the PICSE program through to 2014 because:

* PICSE is not only an awareness program for science but, more importantly, is an experiential strategy that changes the aspirations, study and career directions of students in a sustainable way

* PICSE delivers innovative engagement programs for student and teachers making science relevant and exciting, hence encouraging students into tertiary science and careers in industry

* PICSE is a rigorously evaluated and long term program which is sufficiently flexible to deliver customised outcomes to each investor

* PICSE has a track record of attitudinal change and increased participation in science based primary industry pathways.

* New relationships and partners are critical for the ongoing development and longer-term sustainability of PICSE.

31 May 2012 Cotton CDC – Project Number 3.04.12 CRC1016 Page 1 of 6

2011/12 was a year of milestone events for PICSE. A selection of the highlights include:

* The formation of the PICSE National Advisory Board with eminent university leader and

internationally recognised agriculturist, Professor Alan Robson as Chair.

* A hugely successful mid-year Canberra forum. Titled “Positions Vacant: Young Scientists Wanted for

Future Food Security”, the event canvassed a range of views from industry, government, R&D’s, teachers, universities and students. The outcomes paper is attached as Appendix 1. National media coverage was extensive in both print and radio syndication.

* Two very important partnerships were formalised in 2011. These included a selection of joint projects between PICSE and Agrifood Skills Australia (AFSA), and the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA), who will deliver against joint objectives and further enhance collaboration and industry benefit.

* The very exciting development of the web-based version of the popular Science Investigation Awards (SIA). The new program called “Science for Growth” will build on the 2400 students from across Australia who participated in the SIAs in 2011 and allow more students and teachers (city, rural and remote) to be involved.

At the commencement of the PICSE Project, an independent measurement, evaluation and reporting company (QualDATA) was outsourced to establish an evaluation process to provide an annual synthesis of data which could be used to inform progress reports for DEEWR. Each year, every participant of every PICSE activity was surveyed to collect qualitative and quantitative data. This data is collated for each Activity Centre (linked with a University) and then combined into a national report covering the effectiveness of the process and impact of the program. In 2011, a comparison has been made between the 2009, 2010 and 2011 programs, in addition to comparing the effect of the program across all partner universities.

This project has provided valuable information on both the management of key pest species and management of flooded cotton for the cotton industry during the period 2010-2012. Specifically, the information was provided to address important issues as they arose, supplementing information contained in the Cotton Pest Management Guide and the Australian Cotton Production Manual.

Aphid abundance increased during the 2011/12 season due to host prevalence following above average rainfalls across cotton growing areas. this caused a grat deal of concern throughout the industry as Cotton Bunchy Top virus had been widespread during the 2010/11 season and as aphids are the vector for this disease, the probability of a major CBT outbreak was high. Three Cotton Tales addressing aphid management and CBT disease were prepared by this project providing industry with detailed management information.

Apple Dimpling Bugs were problematic early in 2011/12 season. Also known as yellow mirids, growers were unclear as to whether these insects were likely to require control. Apple Dimpling bugs have the potential to damage seedling cotton, however, they are also useful predators of Helicoverpa eggs and mites. In low numbers, they are unlikely to cause a yield reduction but may cause pin squares to be shed and as numbers increase could affect yields particularily in short season areas. A Cotton Tale was produced by Julie Wise in conjuction with this project to provide management guidance.

Broadmites, typically a rare pest of cotton and more normally found in tropical/subtropical areas, were observed in high numbers during the 2011/12 season. This was primarily thought to be due to the high humidity experienced throughout much of the season, as well as the very high rainfall experienced. Broadmites are difficult to control in cotton as there are no acaricides currently registered for their control. However, incidental control of Broadmites has been observed when growers applied abamectin for control of two spotted mite. Additionally, petroleum spray oils provide additional control of a range of mites and insect pests.

Significant flooding occurred throughout many cotton growing valleys late in the 2011/12 season. this presented enormous challenges to the industry, particularily as cotton was at such a late developmental stage and thus management options were limited. this project led to the development of a four page management brochure in conjunction with leading industry scientists, Mike Bange, Lewis Wilson, Ian Rochester, Paul Grundy, Steve Yeates and Graham Charles, reviewing physiological responses, nutrition, pest and weeds issues that may need to be addressed following such an event.

Silverleaf Whitefly also becam problematic late season 2011/12. The build up of SLW at this time in the season was atypical and primarily resulted in the movement of adults into late maturing crops following control of alternate hosts(weeds) in fallow fields when rainfall events began to diminish. Guidelines for SLW control published in the Cotton Pest Management Guide primarily use the threshold matrix to predict expected population increase resulting from resident populations. Because SLW numbers in this case were primarily coming from non-resident populations, the same set of assumptions hence control recommendations were no longer applicable. A Cotton Tale and subsequent article published in the Australian Cotton Grower Magazine were developed with key scientists Lewis Wilson, Richard Sequeira and Paul Grundy to address this challenging problem.

This project has delivered on two key areas. The first, providing a regional extension focus delivering cutting edge, emerging research information, extension support and information on major production issues and the promotion and adoption of best practice to growers, consultants and industry service providers. The second key area of delivery, focuses delivering national outcomes in the target lead area of soil health and crop nutrition in cotton production systems.

This project has established strong linkages and collaborations between growers, consultants, researchers, servicer providers and industry representatives and government allowing the unhindered flow of information between all key stakeholders. This has successfully delivered information and support on issues including, but not restricted to, crop nutrition, soil health, mealybug, Cotton Bunchy Top, IPM, fusarium, , compaction, waterlogging and government support programs. The project supported the development, implementation and adoption of national programs particularly the industry Best Management Practice program, myBMP. It o provided input into industry information products and tools including the Cotton Pest Management Guide, Australian Cotton Production Manual and Symptoms Guide.

Having a national focus on Soil Health and Crop Nutrition, the project promoted importance and increased the awareness of soil health and crop nutrition as a critical management component in cotton production. The re-established soil health and crop nutrition working group, nitrogen management and nitrogen use efficiency, the promotion of soil and tissue testing, P, K and S research, carbon in cotton systems and the use of Nutrilogic as a critical management tools were all part of the industry wide program supporting and assisting growers in achieving a sustainable viable cotton industry.

The success of this project has played its role in overall success of the Cotton Development and Delivery Team supporting the Cotton Industry during a very difficult period for the industry as a whole.

The result of this project is that Cotton Seed Distributors will form a Joint Venture with CRDC and Cotton Australia to; as explained by Bruce Finney CEO of CRDC, “ Build on and expand the resources to the Development and Delivery Team and myBMP” . This result of ongoing support and increased resource allocation is only possible due to the proven value to the cotton industry of this project commissioned by Cotton CRC.

The key message here is that this collaborative approach which involves collaboration between;

• Cotton Industry Research capability

• Commercial suppliers, • Agribusiness, and

• Crop Consultants

In the development and delivery of Resources and practice change is successful and will have ongoing support after the conclusion of Cotton CRC on 30 June 2012.

There is an increasing use of spreaders for application of urea in the cotton industry. In fact 75% of growers apply granular fertiliser (eg Urea) pre-plant, at planting and in-crop up to flowering (CRDC Cotton Growing Practices 2016). However, a single pass of a broadcast spreader produces an uneven application. Overlapping the spread pattern can improve the uniformity, but the distance between machinery runs to provide the overlap (the bout width) cannot be determined accurately without proper testing.

Uneven application means that parts of the field are being under fertilised, while other parts are being over fertilised, often visible to the eye with a striping pattern across a crop. The performance testing and calibration of a fertiliser spreader is as important as the calibration of spray rigs.

The Australian Fertilisers Services Association and the Australian Fertiliser Industries FertCare initiative have developed Accu-Spread. This involves independent testing and accreditation of fertiliser spreading equipment. Following accreditation, a grower will know the capacity of the spreader to apply urea to industry standards. This means growers will have more confidence in applying an accurate rate, improving the efficiency of fertiliser use and avoiding the patchy, uneven patterns often visible from untested spreaders.

Darren Hart, Cotton Operations Manager, Keytah called CottonInfo to discuss the opportunity to hold a field day in the Moree region looking at spreader testing. He assisted with planning and reviewed the field day program, hosted the Moree Spreader field day and attended the second field day at Bellata.

Ten years into the implementation of Vision 2029, industry growth is being realised and Australian cotton is well on the way to achieving an industry that is differentiated, responsible, tough, successful, respected, capable and innovative.

Industry organisations, including Cotton Australia, Cotton Research & Development Corporation and Cotton Seed Distributors as well AS CottonInfo, the industry’s

joint venture in extension, have aligned their strategic plans with

Vision 2029. The Australian Cotton Industry Forum continues to provide leadership in monitoring and reviewing the vision.

Much has changed over the last ten years in the operating environment for Australian agriculture and the cotton industry. Industry leaders, through the Australian Cotton

Industry Forum, have reviewed not only our progress but also refreshed the vision to ensure it remains contemporary and fit for purpose.

Importantly, everyone involved in Australian cotton has a role to play in achieving Vision 2029.

Ultra-High Pressure Water Jet technology has a number of industrial applications in product manufacturing. The technology uses water pumped through specialised nozzles at ultra-high pressures (50,000-60,000 psi) to create a high powered jet that can be used to very accurately cut through a broad range of materials ranging from steel to carrots. Researchers from the South Australian No Till Farmers Association (SANTFA) have been investigating the potential for this UHP Water Jet technology, termed AquaTill, to be retro-fitted to planting equipment for the purpose of cutting through fallen stubble that would otherwise obstruct the passage of the planting tynes through the soil surface. Compared to a standard cutting disc fitted to many planters for this purpose, AquaTill provides the advantage of cleanly cutting through stubble, eliminating the occurrence of trash ‘hair pinning’ during the planting operation.

Demonstrations of AquaTill in northern NSW by the SANTFA at field days during 2016 piqued the curiosity of a number of cotton growers who expressed an interest in seeing this technology tested for its potential to be used as an alternative method of cotton termination for traditional root cutting.

Root cutting is a commonly deployed crop destruction technique whereby two opposing and overlapping discs are drawn at ground level through the crop and used to cut through the main stem below the cotyledon nodes. Ineffective root cutting can occur when equipment is either not well set up or when in-field conditions are variable (un-even ground or stones), resulting in a percentage of plants that are not severed below the cotyledons and consequently grow back as ratoons, presenting a significant challenge for farm hygiene.

Global warming is surmised to result in major increases in climatic variability (i.e. severe deficiencies and excesses of water for plant production, higher frequency of sub- and supra- optimal growing season temperatures) and changes in pest incidence. In order to maintain yields and profitability, and thus ensure sustainability of the cotton industry, cotton farming systems need to demonstrate resilience in the face of the above mentioned environmental stresses. Resilience can be improved by using suitable tillage and stubble management systems, and crop rotations to improve soil quality and water conservation. Such improvements can be best demonstrated by monitoring in long-term experiments. Indicators of resilience include improvements in soil carbon and nutrients, water storage, soil physical and chemical quality, yield maintenance/profitability improvements over time, and changes in key soil faunal indicator species.

To maintain the productivity of the Australian Cotton Industry, cropping systems that are resilient to these climatic events and the associated soil processes must be identified. This is best done through long-term experiments that capture seasonal variability. The aim of this project was to continue three on-going long-term experiments on selected cropping systems that include practices such as crop rotations, stubble retention, tillage systems and fallow length. Measurements made on an annual basis will include soil carbon and nutrients, physical and chemical quality, crop yields and profitability. Collaborative projects with CSIRO, UNE and other research groups will research soil microbial dynamics of resilient cropping systems, carbon storage in the subsoil, disease incidence, nutrient decline and maintenance, and drainage.

During the previous research the short-term benefits of sowing corn on cotton yield, disease control and subsoil increases in soil carbon were observed. The longer-term impacts of sowing corn in cotton-based farming systems were further investigated in this project. In addition, benefits have been demonstrated in a long term experiment at ACRI with respect to soil faunal indicator species, N, energy use and water conservation in a retained stubble cotton-wheat-vetch system. This long-term investigation is being continued.

Fibre elongation contributes directly to yarn elongation and toughness, which are important particularly in fine count yarn spinning and realised yarn quality. Despite the importance of fibre elongation its measurement has been neglected by industry. A key reason for this has been the lack of confidence in its measurement by high volume instruments.

It is noted that fibre elongation is currently not measured in USDA, Australian or Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton (CSITC) HVI laboratory check tests, nor is any calibration value provided for USDA HVI calibration cottons. Given the effect of fibre elongation on yarn quality and increasing demand for fibre that performs well in fine count yarn, there is a need to address the measurement and management of elongation for the Australian and international cotton industry.

Over 600 fibre samples were collected and measured in this project. The broad aim was to address issues around the information available on fibre elongation values in Australian cotton.

TThis project supported travel, which was conducted in order to participate in the course “Nematodes in Cropping Systems: Identification and Techniques, 2017”. This course provided training and hands-on experience for researchers in sampling, extraction, molecular and microscopic techniques, specimen preparation, culturing, diagnosis and identification of agriculturally important nematodes. The course provided the opportunity to interact with experts in the field as well as networking with course participants from various areas related to nematology research and diagnostics.