The world's first case of glyphosate-resistant sowthistle has been found at Gunnedah in the Upper Namoi, providing a start reminder to growers that vigilance is needed in integrated weed control.

Dryland salinity is on the increase in the upper catchments of the central and northern river valleys of New South Wales (Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council- MDBC, 1999). Tile consequence of this is increased salinity in river water. This could adversely affect irrigated schemes downstream: as irrigation with moderate to highly saline water can lead to increased salinity in the root-zone, if there is insufficient leaching. In order to determine the potential impact and long-term sustainability of irrigated production we need to know the spatial distribution of soil and effects of water quality changes. Important also is the soil-water balance, which needs to be modelled in order to provide estimates of potential salinity accumulation and deep drainage as affected by the current quality of irrigation water. Worst-case scenarios can be applicable in this case.

These end of season resistance management tactics are key components of the Bollgard II resistance management plan (RMP). The success of the Bollgard II RMP in managing resistance is due to the implementation of these tactics, along with the other key components of the RMP such as the use of mandatory refuges.

Many Australian cotton growers sow rotation crops after irrigated cotton assuming that they will improve soil quality, reduce pest and disease incidence, and maintain profitability of cotton. Commonly used rotation crops include wheat, faba bean and field pea (Cooper, 1999). Research suggests, however, that in cracking clay soils, wheat may be a better rotation crop than legumes such as field pea and faba bean due to several factors; viz. wheat results in better soil structure, is more tolerant of moderate salinity and high sodicity, facilitates recycling of Ieached N and is not an alternative host for black root rot of cotton (Hulugalle et al. 1999, 2001, 2002). Consequently sowing wheat after cotton results in greater long-term profitability than sowing legumes (Hulugalle et al. 1999, 2001, 2002). With respect to soil N, short-term studies suggest that legumes sown after cotton can greatly increase root zone soil N (Rochester et al, 1998). Over a long-term, however, differences in soil N between legumes and wheat are less dramatic due to recycling of leached N by the latter (Hulugalle et al, 1999, 2001).

Stinkbugs have recently re-emerged as an important late season sucking pest complex of cotton in Australia. The 'stinkbug' complex includes green vegetable bug (GVB), Nezara viridula (Linnaeus), green stink bug (GSB), Plautia affinis (Dallas), red banded shield bug (RBSB), Piezodorus hybneri (Gmelin), brown stink bug (BSB), Dictyotus caenosus (Westwood), harlequin bug (HRLQB), Tectocoris diophalmus (Thunberg) and cotton stainer bug (CSB), Dysdercus sidae (Montrouzier). In conventional cotton use of broad-spectrum insecticides to manage Helicoverpa spp. effectively controlled the stinkbugs, but with the introduction of single gene transgenic cotton (INGARD) the use of broad-spectrum insecticides to control Helicoverpa spp. has been reduced (Fitt 2000). Further reductions in insecticides is expected with the release of two-gene transgenic cotton and increased uptake of IPM which may allow the stinkbug problem to develop further. Over this past cotton season, chemical sprays were required against GVB in different valleys including the South Burnett and Macquarie. GVB is also a problem in USA cotton and has been studied thoroughly (Barbour et al. 1990, Lee et al 1999, Bundy and McPherson 2000, Bacheler and Mott 2000, Greene et al. 2001). In Australian cotton, the potential of GVB and other stinkbugs to damage crops has not been investigated thoroughly until the initiation of this project. In this paper we present an account of some Australian research on stinkbug damage and sampling and propose action thresholds for the bugs.

WEEDpak - A guide for integrated management of weeds in cotton . This weed guide has been updated at intervals since its release - Two chapter -on Herbicide Damage of cotton is and weed ID provided as a seperate document due to size constraints. and ease of use. This document was originally created in 2002 and has been maintained and added to in the light of new research in the life of the Cotton Catchmemt Communities CRC to 2012

At various times, strong interest develops within the industry for early crop maturity. Earliness can allow the manager to harvest the crop in a more timely manner and thus reduce the risk of quality downgrades due to weather damage. It can also mean a saving on water and late season spray costs if the period for which protection is required can be reduced. In this paper we will bring together some pieces of ongoing research which are dealing with aspects of the timing of crop maturity. In this article we use the term earliness to describe the time taken from sowing to crop maturity, defined as 60% of the boils open. Thus, a crop which is sown ten days later than a normal crop but harvested only five days later, has greater earliness because the growth period is reduced.

Cotton planted into stubble has shown many advantages over conventional planting practices, including: reducing soil erosion, reducing pesticide and nutrient movement, and improving soil condition (Waters and Sequeira 2000). However the main focus of the current research is to identify the potential benefits in insect pest management. There are many theories on why cotton is sprayed less when it is planted into wheat stubble, and these are currently being investigated. The two main ideas are that firstly, cereal stubble acts as a visual deterrent and obstruction to egg-laying heliothis moths and secondly that the stubble acts as a refuge for natural enemies which prey on or parasitise the heliothis eggs and young larvae.

Cotton Research and Development Corporation is exploring the possibility that a trained sniffer dog may be able to assist in field operations testing for Helicoverpa Armigera pupae. The basic concept is that a suitable sniffer dog candidate be sourced, raised and trained to identify these cotton pests whilst in the soil so that field examinations for Helicoverpa Armigera may be streamlined and establish the level of infestation and what action is needed for the level established. It is envisaged that the dog would not have to do broad acre searched but rather spot searches aimed at establishing the number of pest inhabiting a smaller test area. Should this concept reach full operational field use; it has the potential to save extreme amounts of resources and funds.

Seasonal cotton region weather outlook form October 2014