A CRDC Small Capacity Building Project Grant was successfully applied for to conduct a feasibility study into utilising a biomass burner at the Tandou Gin to off-set the increasing costs of LPG used in the ginning process.

Mr John Allison, a consulting engineer was retained to conduct a site inspection of Tandou Gin to determine the current energy requirements and to determine how a biomass burner might be utilised to reduce LPG usage. Mr Allison had successfully installed and commissioned 2 biomass burners at olive oil processing sites in Northern Victoria effectively negating the use of LPG at these sites.

Potential on-farm fuels were identified and assessed. Cotton gin trash, upland cotton seed, pima cotton seed and cotton stalks were all assessed with gin trash being identified as the most suitable fuel based on costs, quantity, locality, calorific value and ash content.

It was determined that there was a surplus of gin trash created on site to supply the heating requirements of the gin up to 700 C. The design concept was that the biomass burner would supply base heating requirements up to this figure at which time the existing LPG burners would cut in if required.

An assessment of different types of heat generating equipment was conducted that included ow pressure boiler

The consultant determined that hot air generators would be the simplest most cost effective installation to meet the gins requirements. The consultant determined that the installation and commissioning of 2 x 500KW hot air generators would cost in the vicinity of $320K

This brief provides an update of an initial review (Cotton Industry Injury and Safety Profile), that was commissioned by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation in 2014. The purpose of the document is to provide contemporaneous data to gauge progress against key work health and safety benchmarks that the industry is seeking to attain.

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.

The Cotton Research and Development Corporation approached the MacIntyre Valley Cotton Growers Association (MVCGA) to undertake a human capacity project to receive a $10,000 grant. As a result of the long drought in the late 2000’s and the mining boom the local cotton industry has found it hard to attract young people to select the industry as a career. A succession plan is needed for the cotton industry to replace those people who have left the industry because of the drought or who are at or near retirement age.

The MVCGA executive committee decided that the money would be best invested on expanding the pushing the boundaries program. The first pushing the boundaries program was developed in 2000 under SILO (Schools Industry Links Outreach) through the Goondiwindi Training and Technology (GTT) centre, the Goondiwindi State High School and the MVCGA. Funding first came from the Commonwealth Government via the Australian Student Training Foundation (ASTF, to become ECEF soon after) and the NFF.

After engaging the Goondiwindi High School the MVCGA discovered that there was a negative perception about the cotton industry as a career choice for students. Teachers and parents perception was that there were long hours and poor work conditions and poor salaries in the cotton industry. Students also had little understanding on the wide range of careers available in the cotton industry, from scientists, agronomists, sellers, bankers and farm managers.

The MVCGA engaged the students through a number of means which included the pushing the boundaries program, the high school agricultural immersion day, Queensland government gateway to agriculture project. Once engaged the teachers and students saw have diverse the cotton industry is and how many jobs are available as a career.

The pushing the boundaries program key outcome is to increase the number of young students selecting the cotton industry as a career, it has been hard to gauge the success of the program so far. Since engaging the school and building a strong relationship the MVCGA has seen an increase in the interest in the cotton industry. This has been helped by the two record crops the industry has seen and the record price for cotton.

The completion of this project has shown that the industry needs engage students in schools at a young age to allow them to make a correction to the cotton industry and discover the career opportunities. There is an opportunity for other CGA in other regions to introduce the program into their high school. There is also an opportunity to keep working with the students who have undertaken the project to keep mentoring and showing them other aspects of the cotton industry.

The 2011 season is the first season of commercial cotton production in the Ord region for 10+ years, making this year a suitable time for establishing baseline frequencies and severities of endemic diseases. Given the rotations with horticulture and the problems that have been encountered with aphids in cotton this season, it is also a good opportunity to further road-test the ‘proof of absence’ protocols for insect vectored diseases such as Cotton Bunchy Top and Cotton Leaf Curl Disease. Working together, Plant Pathologists Linda Smith and Cherie Gambley have knowledge of all endemic and key exotic diseases of cotton and methods for their surveillance. As well as conducting surveys, in a manner similar to that undertaken in the eastern states, Linda and Cherie will share their knowledge of surveying methods with local research agronomist, Penny Goldsmith, Ag WA. The aim of this travel is to begin building capacity in WA for the surveys to run each year in the region if cotton becomes a stable inclusion in the farming system.

The reintroduction of cotton to the Australian semi arid tropics (SAT) was prevented by insect pests

that are dominant during the wet (summer) season and a perception that the crop could only be

grown in the wet season. Growing cotton during the dry (winter) season could avoid these pests

provided an integrated pest management system was adopted. However the photothermal pattern of

the dry season is the reverse of the wet season and that of spring sown cotton in temperate

latitudes. Cold night temperatures are possible mid season and high temperatures are likely early

and late in the season. Solar radiation is 20% less than at temperate latitudes mid season and

could also limit crop growth. It was not known what yield or fibre quality was possible or whether

the crop could be reliably sown and picked within the confines of the dry season.

Over three seasons two Gossypium hirsutum (upland) Bt transgenic cultivars and one Gossypium

barbadense cultivar were sown from March to June in field experiments at the Ord River (15.5oS)

in Western Australia. A pot experiment was conducted at Katherine, Northern Territory (14.5oS)

where biotic stresses were removed and over two seasons: ambient and ambient plus 5 to 6 oC night

thermal conditions were imposed from 1 wk prior to first flower to 2 wk after last effective flower.

Day temperatures were the same. Average ambient minimum temperature for the treatment period

was 2 to 4 oC less than the Ord River at the same growth stage. The OZCOT cotton simulation

model was validated then applied to simulate gross margin, yield and quality, with enhancements to

predict fibre length and colour grade developed in this thesis, at the Ord River using 53 years of

historic climatic records for sowing dates from March 1st to May 25th.

Experimental results at the Ord found for the upland cultivars, the highest lint yields of 1900 to

2300 kg/ha were for March and April sowings and were at the high end of Australian and

international benchmarks. The lint yield of the Gossypium barbadense cultivar was highest at a

March sowing, at least 87% of the upland cultivars, which is comparable with temperate climates.

For the March and April sowings both the lower temperatures and radiation during early boll

growth reduced the crop growth rate during this phase compared with cotton grown at temperate

latitudes. However, assimilate supply was adequate because boll demand was also lower due to

early flowers having slower boll development, lower retention and smaller bolls. Increasing late

season temperature and radiation permitted yield compensation via an extended flowering period

and a greater contribution to yield from later pollinated flowers on the top and outside of the plant.

The number of temperatures >35oC and or <11oC affected time to squaring, requiring modification

of development models derived in temperate climates. Radiation use efficiency (RUE) was similar to

Gossypium hirsutum grown at temperate latitudes. The RUE measured for the Gossypium barbadense cultivar was the first reported for this species. The linear decline of RUE with average

temperature up to first flower has not been reported previously in cotton and explains some of

variation in RUE measured here and elsewhere. Due to cool temperatures during fibre development

fibre length and strength at March and April sowings were low to marginal compared with market

preference values. The cultivar differences observed here suggest wider screening may identify

upland cultivars with suitable fibre length and strength in these conditions. The commercial

prospects for Gossypium barbadense are doubtful unless longer and stronger fibre types are identified.

The pot experiment confirmed that flowers were damaged by low ambient minimum temperatures

near anthesis which led to shedding or reduced boll size due to lower seed number. The latter could

be due to poor pollination and competition for assimilates. Importantly this experiment

demonstrated that full yield recovery from minimums <11oC during flowering and boll growth is

possible provided they are episodic.

The OZCOT cotton simulation model was validated for lint yield and average time-to-maturity in

response to sowing date and N fertiliser rate. Further research was required to reduce the

variability of maturity predictions. There was only a 14 day sowing period from March 19th where

the simulated gross margin (GM) was maximised at $2378/ha. Poor trafficability combined with the

Bt resistance sowing window, reduced the number of sowing days in the optimum period. Hence to

reliably sow a commercial area it was likely sowing would extend beyond April 3 and reduce

median GM by 9-15% due to lower fibre quality. Future research should apply this type of analysis

throughout the Australian SAT.

Cotton management in the dry season should aim to increase the flowering period, to ensure yield

compensation from later flowers and to adopt practices that can improve trafficability within the

optimum window e.g. minimum tillage.

This project was jointly funded by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation and the Grains Research and Development Corporation. The training activities delivered within this project resulted in a positive practice change towards improved by more than 80% of the participants.

Over the three year funding period 114 training activities were delivered to growers, advisors and machinery dealers in the Northern GRDC region and Cotton Growing areas This output exceeded the project milestones by 75% ( the milestones required a minimum of 65 workshops to be completed). The training activities alone contributed over $400,000 value to this project through in-kind and cash contributions from the industry and participants.

A total of 8 replicated trials were completed to demonstrate equivalent efficacy and potential limitations with drift reduction technologies. Results were widely reported to industry via field days, industry updates and inclusion in training materials.

Bill Gordon Consulting prepared 15 articles for industry journals, and contributed to a further 12 regional newspaper articles, and gave radio and television interviews related to spray drift management.

The outputs of this project, in combination with other industry initiatives, have seen a significant change in the types of nozzles that applicators are using. In 2005 at the commencement of this project only 43% of the nozzles supplied by the leading distributor in Australia would be considered as drift reducing, in 2008 this figure had increased to 72% of all nozzle sales through this supplier.Project outputs have also seen an increased awareness of the meteorological conditions that contribute increased risk of spray drift occurring. Chemical user accreditations now include to the materials developed in this project by Bill Gordon Consulting.

This project has worked in conjunction with industry to develop the capacity to continually improve the management of spraying operations and to minimise the risk of spray drift events adversely impacting on the industry.

Based on the data that emerged from a Human resources project undertaken earlier in 2012 and reported on in March 2012, the objectives of this project were to investigate the likely level of support for a Strategic Program that would address key succession and professional development issues in the cotton agribusiness sector, in terms of:

 What would be the key issues for attention?

 What would be the key factors affecting how to address these key issues?

 What level of support would the sector be prepared to supply – and how?

 How would such a program best be run?

 To what extent would the sector be prepared to assist / buy in?

Drawing on the findings of the original review reported in March 2012 and drawing on the results of this project, the following projected numbers and roles of cotton agribusiness personnel required by 2016 has been updated. This report recognises that making predictions about likely staff numbers in the cotton industry has a high degree of uncertainty and that there is no allowance made for key non-operational roles and for retiring or departing industry personnel.

The key elements of implementing the Program appear to be best focussed on - an independent

panel, board of management or reference group to guide the project;the input of CRDC and Cotton Australia; an

independent contracted project manager who could be initial panel chair to manage the project in

accordance with the panel's needs and interests; a regular process of engaging with the agribusiness

sector -to brief it on progress and obtain input regarding future plans; plus varied engagement

processes focused on personal interaction with the sector at key events and also electronically .

The engagement processes would seek input and outline progress, while also outlining success

stories that other cotton agribusinesses could use.

The panel could represent the various cotton agribusiness sectors, commencing with representatives

of the project respondents. They would be varied I confirmed at the proposed round table

discussion in first quarter 2013, which would meet potentially quarterly thereafter. Initially the

panel would need to ensure a defined longer term vision is scoped out, so the annual activities have

some context in which to operate and the evaluation process has some outcomes to monitor to

demonstrate the panel/ project effectiveness.

The following industry take home messages are a summary of practical findings pertinent

to growers and industry personnel:

• Growers should continue to delay sowing to avoid cool conditions that favour

seedling disease and black root rot, and treat seed with both fungicide and

insecticide to minimise the risk of stand loss from seedling disease and wireworm.

• Incidence and severity of black root rot may increase under overhead irrigation, so

growers should avoid installing overhead irrigation systems in fields with a history

of the disease and take active steps to suppress the disease in overhead irrigated

fields.

• Seedling disease is caused by a large and variable group of fungi.

• Varietal resistance and farm hygiene are key tools in continuing to reduce the

impact of Verticillium and Fusarium wilt on cotton production. However growers

should practice all aspects of integrated disease management for these diseases as

varietal resistance can break down in cool seasons.

• Boll rot fungi have the potential to wipe out yield. Always manage the crop to

avoid rank growth.

• Industry awareness of biosecurity threats is crucial in preventing and/or

successfully eradicating incursions of exotic plant pathogens. On-farm biosecurity

and farm hygiene measures underlie whole of industry biosecurity awareness and

preparedness.

• Dynasty CST continues to be the most effective fungicide seed treatment for

seedling disease.

• Several fungicides have shown promise as seed treatments for black root rot

although further research is required. Bion continues to be the most effective seed

treatment against black root rot.

• Rotation with wheat does not appear to reduce levels of black root rot.

• Biofumigation is an effective means of reducing the impact of black root rot,

although benefits may be masked when conditions do not favour disease.

• Growers should test plant growth in fields suspected of being deficient in VAM by

growing test strips of chick pea, linseed or cotton and comparing to growth in

recently cropped soil.

These take home messages are a best bet approach to minimising the impacts of cotton

diseases on sustainable cotton production and compliment existing Integrated Disease

Management guidelines. Adoption of these take home messages will improve industry

biosecurity and reduce the risk posed by exotic and endemic threats to Australian cotton

production.

The intention of this report is to provide the Australian Cotton Industry with information on the performance of the 2008 crop in regard to content and short fibre content as tested by the AFIS PRO instrument, fineness as tested by the Cottonscan™ and calculated maturity. These results represent results for the second year of this survey with samples for the 2009 crop still to be tested and evaluated.

Nine hundred and eighty two samples from 32 varieties, 9 growing locations and ginned at 23 gins were collected by classing facilities and forwarded to and tested by CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering (CMSE) in the Cotton Testing Laboratory situated in Geelong. The results show that the 2008 crop had an average nep content of 355 neps/gram, an average of 26 seed coat neps/gram, and an average short fibre content of 9.6%. When comparing these results to the results from the 2007 1crop we note that the average nep content has increased by 85 neps/gram and that the average seed coat neps/gram, and short fibre content were similar.

When comparing the 2008 results to the current Uster Statistics and requirements by

international spinners2, one will note that the average results for seed coat neps and short fibre content are within standard and acceptable. However the nep content of 355 neps/gram is above the preferred 250 neps/gram. As was the case in 2007, there are large variations in nep, seed coat nep and short fibre content, which needs to be investigated further once all the samples for the three years have been tested and analysed.

The 2008 crop had an average fineness of 191 mtex, which can still be considered to be fairly coarse although it is slightly finer than the 2007 crop, which had an average fineness of 204 mtex. The average maturity was 0.78, which is less mature than the 2007 crop which had an average maturity of 0.85. As was the case in 2007, there are also large variations in the fineness and maturity values that need to be investigated further.