This report outlines the results of surveys conducted by of their

membership and cotton growers from across the production valleys in eastern Australia.

Results from the grower survey show that overall, Bollgard RR was the gene stack that was planted most by

survey respondents, at 60.6 per cent of cotton planted, with Bollgard next at 24 per cent. However, this

varied by region, with Bollgard RR varieties making up 81.4 per cent of the surveyed cotton area in the

Southern zone, and only 36.8 per cent in the Northern zone (where Bollgard was higher at 47.9 per cent).

Conventional and Conventional RR varieties made up only 15.8 per cent of the total cotton area planted by

survey respondents. Conventional RR varieties were highest in the Southern zone, at 12.5 per cent (5.8 per

cent being the overall mean).

Forecasts of future variety mix by respondents showed a slight increase in the percentage of Bollgard

varieties to be planted in the upcoming 2006-2007 season. Significant increases in Bollgard plantings

included the Border Districts zone (up from 22.8 per cent to 32.4 per cent of all varieties planted), while

Bollgard RR gains were most significant in the Southern zone (up from 81.4 per cent to 92.7 per cent).

Overall, all Bollgard varieties (Bollgard and Bollgard RR), were predicted to increase as a percentage of the

total cotton crop planted from 84.6 per cent to 89.9 per cent for the sample in the survey.

Growers were also grouped in terms of their attitude to whether they considered using Roundup Ready

varieties “better in their situation” than over-the-top (OTT) herbicides. This analysis showed that growers

responding to the survey, who agreed with the statement, grew a higher percentage of RR cotton, were

younger and had been involved with cotton production for less time than other growers. These same

growers were larger employers, and had a larger percentage of their irrigation supply from ground-water

sources.

As in previous surveys of consultants the relative control of weeds in low pressure fields was considered

best where RR technology was employed in conjunction with a conventional herbicide program. A similar

outcome was recorded for those fields with high pressure whereby the combination of Roundup Ready

technology and a conventional herbicide program received the highest ranking in aggregate. A majority of

consultants were uncertain as to whether RR cotton showed a difference in yield with a slightly larger

percentage of respondents (18.9%) noting a decrease in yield as opposed to the 13.5 per cent who observed

a yield increase. A higher proportion of respondents also ranked the economic performance of RR

technology higher on high weed pressure fields in aggregate to that experienced where RR was employed

on low weed pressure fields.

A small number of respondents reported having some experience with Roundup Ready Flex technology.

Comments from these consultants suggest that pricing issues associated with the new technology’s

introduction will be important as they asses performance in future seasons. Comments on the expected

advantages and disadvantages of RR Flex were well contributed. The responses indicate that there is a

wide spectrum of opinions surrounding how RR Flex may perform, suggesting that until more commercial

results are available, consultants will be unsure of which applications of the technology will deliver greatest

value to growers.

I

ntegrated weed management and the issue of herbicide resistance was a constant theme in many of the

comments contributed by consultants. Consultants and growers know the benefits that have accrued during

the period during which Roundup Ready varieties have been available to the industry. Similarly, these crop

managers are concerned about the long-term viability of their weed management strategies and the need to

have a number of methods available to combat this constant threat to production. The advent of Roundup Ready Flex will present the industry with a range of alternative approaches to weed management, it will be in the industry’s long-term benefit to closely monitor the changes to on-farm management and weed spectrums that occur as a result.

A major challenge for the insect pest management is responding to resistance.The spread of resistance 'genes' throughout a population depends upon initital frequencies, dominance, fitness consequences and the mating system of the pest. The latter is often ignored in pest management strategies, which assume that insects mate randomly and disregard the possibility that females exercise some choice in mating partner. There is now widespread evidence that females both actively select mating partners and, in those species in which females mate with more than one male, influence the paternity of their offspring.

Wincott – the Women’s Industry Network Cotton – has achieved all the objectives of this project. Founded in 2002, it now operates successfully as a network for women involved directly and indirectly in the Australian cotton industry. Original funding from the Cotton Research and Development Corporation established the network and provided co-ordination for the development and research of relevant services. Wincott has progressed its goal to become self sufficient through sponsorship from our gold sponsors: Monsanto, ANZ, Grant Thornton, and silver sponsorship from: Telstra, Bayer Crop Science and Drummuster Wincott provides members with opportunities for personal and career development and fosters their mainstream industry participation, benefiting the industry at the same time with a new or improved talent pool. It caters for women at all levels of skills, confidence and aspirations, ranging from those who wish to learn more about cotton growing and the cotton industry through to women who may wish to undertake a broader role within the industry or in the wider agricultural or natural resource sectors. A number of Wincott members have used the skills gained through Wincott to take up important leadership roles in the industry or to contribute to their regional communities. The Wincott network is cost effective and uses existing industry structures and a wide range of resources to achieve its aims and objectives. In the final year of the project (2005–06), membership fees were abolished. Members used the skills, confidence and contacts they have gained from Wincott activities to seek other sources of sponsorship and project funding, meaning Wincott has achieved the important objective of becoming a strong and financially self-sustaining organisation. Wincott’s current database has 280 women on it, with membership stretching from Emerald in Queensland to Hillston in New South Wales, as well as metropolitan areas. Membership encompasses growers, consultants, researchers, partners of cotton personnel, spray applicators and many others. The current committee of eleven, is indicative of the strength & breadth of membership. They include growers, consultants, researchers and industry personnel from all the cotton growing regions. From its inception Wincott has organised information days, training courses, assistance with applications for grants and awards and regular newsletters and has an up-to-date website, launched at the Annual General Meeting in Narrabri in 2005. This has a range of information, from Wincott activities (including past newsletters) to cotton industry news and updates on cotton industry-related regulatory issues. It provides links to relevant cotton, agricultural and government websites. The number of visits to the Newsletters page on the Wincott website has increased considerably and the newsletters have been a successful tool for promoting Wincott-sponsored workshops and courses. Wincott has achieved widespread acceptance within the cotton industry because of its success in providing women with the confidence and knowledge to participate fully within the mainstream industry. Wincott has become a valuable means of disseminating information throughout the industry. Other cotton organisations now use Wincott to promote industry events such as farm health and skills shortage workshops and Wincott’s cotton industry ‘starter kit’, which provides basic, easy to understand details about the industry is being used by other industry organisations. After an approach by Grant Thornton Accountants, Sydney, Wincott is assisting with succession planning workshops in all cotton valleys in the second half of 2006. Wincott has also worked to strengthen the linkages between the cotton industry and the community and provides direct communication between industry, research organisations, government and other organisations that have a direct impact on the community’s perception of the cotton industry. This work has been aided by Wincott media releases, articles in rural magazines and newspapers and a stand at trade fairs and the Australian Cotton Conference to promote the organisations’s work. Through the Australian Women in Agriculture forum, Wincott has been able to promote science-based discussion and disseminate information on issues such as biotechnology, water use and environmental issues to women in other agricultural industries. Looking to the future, Wincott will continue its present range of activities and actively seek opportunities to provide further information and training opportunities for its members, while pursuing further sponsorships to enable new activities.

Beneficial insects (generalist predators and parasitoids) occur within cotton agro ecosystems in Australia, but farming systems do not always encourage their survival. Recent changes in cotton production, like the cultivation of genetically modified cotton, the formation of area wide management groups and the subsequent reduction in pesticide applications, have all contributed to the survival of beneficial insects on cotton properties. Populations of generalist predators can be found on other common crops (e.g. winter wheat, sorghum and lucerne), but the planting of such crops varies, depending on water availability. Little attention has been given to the non-crop vegetation (native trees, grasses and shrubs and introduced weeds) surrounding cotton fields and the role it may play in supporting populations of beneficial insects. In this study, various habitats were sampled and the spatial and temporal patterns of several generalist predator species investigated. Potential resources provided by the habitats and ways of improving habitats were also identified. Finally, the movement of generalist predators between habitats and cotton at small (field) and large (area-wide group) scales was investigated.

This study was done in northern New South Wales, in a cotton growing area surrounded by a planted windbreak of native trees and shrubs, mature river red gum trees (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.), pastures, dryland lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and a travelling stock route (corridor of communal grazing land). A suction sampler was used to collect the following predators: Heteroptera - Nabis kinbergii (Reuter); Neuroptera - Mallada signata (Schneider) and Micromus tasmaniae (Walker); Coleoptera - Coccinella transversalis (Fabricius), Diomus notescens (Blackburn), Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) and Dicranolaius bellulus (Guerin-Meneville). Three years of sampling were undertaken, commencing in July (winter) and ceasing in February (summer) of each year. Oviposition sites for some of the predators were identified. Predator species differed in their preferred oviposition habitats. Predators were found to be present in the surrounding habitats throughout the sampling period and there were significant differences in predator abundance between years and months for all habitats. Rainfall influenced the annual variations in predator numbers, and the monthly variations in predator population abundance were attributed to summer pesticide applications as well as a mass spring emergence of M. tasmaniae.

It was found that the surrounding habitats supported populations of predators by providing resources like oviposition sites and that habitat specialisation by different predator species means that a range of habitats is needed to support a suite of generalist predators.

Cotton is irrigated using irrigation channels. These channels also provide indirect irrigation to the surrounding habitats, particularly along the tail drain. An experiment investigated the impact of the irrigation channel on arthropods within the habitat immediately adjacent to the irrigation channel and compared it with a non-irrigated habitat nearby. Two sections of the same native windbreak, one adjacent to the irrigation channel and the other away from the irrigation channel were sampled using a suction sampler from July (winter) to December (summer). Arthropods were sorted to Order. There was no significant difference in the total numbers of arthropods collected in the two sections of the windbreak. However, significantly more Araneae, Neuroptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Homoptera were present in the irrigated section. As many predators are found within these orders, irrigation has the potential to increase predator populations within the windbreak. The surrounding habitat is only valuable to cotton growers if predators move from the habitat into cotton. The movement of generalist predators between a windbreak and a cotton crop was investigated by applying fluorescent dyes to the native windbreak and placing yellow sticky traps in the cotton to catch marked predators. Whilst small numbers of marked predators were found within the windbreak, no predators were collected on the yellow sticky traps, suggesting that predators did not move from the adjacent vegetation into the cotton during this experiment. A further study investigating the colonisation patterns of the generalist predators in newly planted cotton, indicated that they colonised fields very early, in some cases 2 weeks after planting (when cotton cotyledons were newly emerged from the soil), and were highly mobile over distances of 500 m. The observed migration distance of 700 m supports the suggestion that predators were not only migrating from adjacent vegetation but also from further afield. This means that cotton producers need to take the broader landscape into consideration when looking at the spatial pattern of habitats on their properties and adjacent areas. The regional movement of generalist predators over distances of 10 km was investigated using three seasons of data collected by researchers at the Australian Cotton Research Institute. The movement of generalist predators varied depending on the pest pressure, spray activity and spatial pattern of cotton and native vegetation. The mobility of predators means that spatial patterns need to be widened when considering habitat management. The results of this thesis will assist cotton growers in the management of the surrounding non-cotton habitats. For example the maintenance of a variety of habitats like grasses, shrubs and trees is needed to support a range of predators. These habitats can be enhanced if they are able to access water in dry times. The mobility of predators suggests a broader spatial scale should be considered when planning the spatial arrangement of these habitats in cotton-growing districts.

Broad Mites ; Ecology, damage and control

Cotton gin trash comprises of leaf matter, bark, soils and other matter that has been collected during cotton harvest and is removed from the cotton lint during the ginning process.

The NSW Environment Protection Agency (EPA) raised concerns about the pesticide

residues that may be contained in gin trash and has suggested that it may be classified as a hazardous waste. Cotton ginners were highly concerned about the potential costs and practical implications of such a classification of this high volume waste. In response, the Cotton Research and Development Corporation commissioned a research project, costed at $120,000, to assess the pesticide levels in gin trash. The research found that pesticide residue levels were generally

below that of the hazardous waste thresholds. As a result of this and negotiation by industry, gin trash is now expected to be classified as a solid waste.

This analysis was commissioned in order to compare the benefits and costs to industry of the change in classification of cotton gin trash. In order to undertake an economic assessment of this research, it was necessary to first develop a credible potential treatment method for gin trash as a hazardous waste. If the reclassification had been approved by the EPA, development and implementation of a treatment method would have been the responsibility of the cotton industry.

A Net Present Value of $1,232 million is estimated for the economic assessment. The calculated benefit is large and demonstrates the high value of the research to industry. The research was considered to have played the critical role in obtaining the solid waste classification of cotton gin trash. The majority of the benefit can be attributed to the avoidance of costs to industry, in particular the much higher trash sample testing costs under the hazardous waste classification.

Situated in Narrabri, the heart of cotton country is the Australian Cotton Centre. Providing the educational front-line for the cotton industry, the centre takes visitors from young children to their grandparents on an educational and fun journey through the Australian cotton industry.

Since it first opened its doors in 2002, more than 55,000 people have visited the centre to learn about this world-leading industry.

Many Australians would be surprised to know that cotton was brought out on the first fleet and has been grown here commercially since the early 1960s. Narrabri is in the centre of this successful industry, which stretches from Menindee in the South of NSW to Emerald in the Central North of Queensland.

Cotton directly employs 10,000 people in these communities and contributes to the local and national economy.

The Australian cotton industry is the most water efficient in the world and produces yields three times the world average. It is these high standards that the Australian Cotton Centre highlights in its new “Water Wise” exhibits. With the prolonged drought, and increasing community and political interest in water, the Australian Cotton Centre addressed this issue with a new two exhibit display. Water was overwhelmingly the major issue concerning visitors that came to the Centre and the interactive “Water Wise” exhibits has helped to dispel some of the myths out there about water and the cotton industry.

For example, cotton is only grown where natural rainfall in the area is greater than 600mm a year. This rainfall makes up a large part of the crop’s water requirements.

The cotton industry will also spend $17 million over the next three years on research projects to make it even more water-efficient.

The first exhibit promotes cotton industry research and explores issues such as water resources, conservation and environmental sustainability. It includes a miniature model of a river-catchment, complete with rain and running water informing visitors about water management and use at river-catchment level. The second exhibit displays an irrigated cotton field, demonstrating water use efficiency and technologies and techniques used by Australian farmers.

Most importantly, the “Water Wise” exhibits highlights the cotton industry’s water saving initiatives, and explains the way water is allocated in the Murray-Darling system. For example, the exhibits detail the water cycle and its importance to regional communities and also that water is only allocated to cotton growers after environmental flows and domestic needs are met. The exhibits through education simultaneously promote and demonstrate how we can live sustainably.

The “Water Wise” exhibits join the other 9 interative exhibits within the Centre to further enhance visitor's knowledge and values of Australia’s Coton Industry and in particular the environmental issues.

Since the first reported control failures at Emerald during the 1998-99 cotton season, insecticide resistance in cotton aphid, has emerged as a significant threat to the Australian cotton industry. Although once considered a late season pest, aphid populations now require targetted control earlier, resulting in increased aphicide sprays and consequent selection for resistance.

Previously, the cotton aphid had been readily controlled with the IPM compatible carbamate, pirimicarb. However, by 1999-2000 pirimicarb resistance was common in the southeast of Queensland and New South Wales. Pirimicarb also conferred cross-resistance to the unrelated organophosphate compounds dimethoate and omethoate rendering them useless. Efficacy of the remaining organophosphates is variable with some aphids also resistant to pyrethoids and endosulfan. These multiple resistant aphids can only be controlled by newer products such as diafenthiuron. The effects of resistance can be reduced with effective resistance management. Management in part requires an understanding of the underlying resistance mechanisms, however, this is not well understood in Australian A. gossypii populations.

Consequently, the objective of this project was to better understand the underlying resistance mechanisms used by A. gossypii. That information will then be used to develop more robust control strategies including a field based kit to detect pirimicarb resistance.

Getting Ahead and Staying There is most certainly a common goal in many aspects of life and business. For Supima it is a multifaceted challenge of building a brand identity and consumer recognition upon a top quality cotton fiber. To understand the goal for Supima it is important to understand what American Pima is, as well as address the concept of differentiation and adding value to a product through branding and how we at Supima promote and identify American Pima. There are two species of cotton grown in the U.S. The most common one is the Gossypium Hirsutum - otherwise known as Upland cotton. The other species is an extra long staple cotton called Gossypium Barbadense - otherwise known as American Pima in the United States. American Pima production represents about 3% of the entire U.S. cotton crop on an annual basis. This is similar to the percentage of ELS and LS cottons that are grown around the world relative to the entire worldwide crop

The three-gene product Bollgard 3 is expected to be available commercially in 2015. However it is of concern that a pre-emptive study of variability for susceptibility to Vip3A toxin isolated alleles conferring resistance within both H. armigera and H. punctigera. Heterozygotes for resistance in both species occur at frequencies (5% in H. armigera and 3% in H. punctigera) that are well above expected mutation rates and above the current frequencies for Cry2Ab.

The magnitude of the threat posed by Vip3A resistance to the Australian cotton industry will be determined by factors intrinsic to the resistance alleles as well as the frequency of the resistance allele. The results from this work suggest that there is one gene involved in resistance to Vip3A, has several direct impacts on the industry.

1) We have detected a single gene involved and the different resistant alleles isolated are allelic and largely recessive at the discriminating dose, the strategy of detecting these Vip3A alleles using F1 tests in the monitoring project is justified by the evidence for both species.

2) In both H. armigera and H. punctigera reproductive success is reduced when they are not under selection, this suggests that there could be a delay in the development of resistance if there are enough susceptible moths generated from refuges and non-structured refuges. This effect could be in addition to the dilution caused by mating with susceptible individuals.

3) Vip3A resistance allele frequency in H. armigera will not be affected by resistant individuals or individuals carrying a resistance allele undergoing diapause. This has particular relevance for the southern cotton region where facultative diapause is a fundamental part of the biology, particularly of H. armigera. For H. punctigera there was an increase in mortality associated with resistance to Vip3A though no other effects could be observed relative to emergence percentage (assuming successful entry into diapause), weight or sex.

4) The fact that Vip3A resistant individuals are able to survive on conventional cotton suggests that they would be able to survive in conventional cotton refuges and most likely on other potential host species. In addition both species are able to reproduce successfully after developing on cotton. There was a fitness cost identified in homozygous resistant H. armigera and while relatively small, the developmental delay observed in conventional cotton suggest that the larvae would be exposed to predation, disease or alternative control methods for longer, reducing their chances of surviving and passing on the resistance genes.

This work represents a comprehensive analysis of the fitness effects of Vip3A resistance. Possessing resistance alleles to Vip3A can have some deleterious effects but most of these were observed in homozygous resistant strains. Heterozygotes did as well or even better than the susceptible strains in direct comparisons. However, without selection, the resistant phenotype declined in a relatively small number of generations in both species. This adds to the weight of evidence that refuges and non-structured refuges will play a vital role in controlling the frequency of Vip3A alleles in the population.