Aquaculture is the fastest growing food-producing industry in the world, and currently contributes nearly 50% of total fisheries production. It has great potential in Australia because of our limited wild fisheries, over-exploitation of some fisheries, and importation of large quantities of fish. Freshwater fish contribute around half the global aquacultural production. The native freshwater fish silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) has significant potential, and R&D by the NSW Government has provided a technical basis for industry development. Although around 500 tonnes are produced annually in ponds, the industry has not realised its potential to date due to difficulties with pond management, slow growth and losses to bird predation and infectious diseases during winter, the high cost of feeding and the small scale of most farms. Cages are easy to manage, facilitate efficient feeding, and protect fish from birds. Cages also enable the use of water bodies such as storages on cotton farms that are otherwise unsuitable for commercial aquaculture. Water for irrigation is a substantial and recurring cost to cotton farmers, and freshwater aquaculture may offer an opportunity to add value to the water and improve water-use efficiencies. This study demonstrated that silver perch is an excellent species for cage culture. High survival and good growth at high stocking densities lead to high production rates. Optimal stocking densities based on fish performance and welfare were identified for different production phases (e.g.100 fish/m3 for grow-out to > 500 g). Commercially-available diets with 30-45% protein and 10-17 MJ/kg energy were suitable, and the cost-effectiveness of feeding was determined principally by purchase price. A new strategy of over-wintering fingerlings at elevated temperatures in a tank-based recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) significantly improved survival and growth, and shortened the overall culture period.

Final Report Rural Water Use Efficiency 3Best Practice Water Use and Irrigation in Irrigated Cotton and Grain

SiroMat is an instrument that has been developed to measure cotton fibre maturity directly and accurately. The instrument measures the proportion of particular interference colors transmitted by cotton fibre snippets viewed between crossed polars of a polarizing light microscope. The interference colours measured by SiroMat are directly related to a cotton fibre&#39s maturity or cell wall thickening.

This research scopes the current state of play of natural resource governance in the cotton industry in order to formulate sound parameters for a larger research proposal. It examines the potential for coordination between the NRM policies promulgated by the cotton industry, local government, state governments and NRMA sectors.s

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Following on from the successful presentation of the inaugural Field to Fabric training course in August 2005, which was attended by 30 people, two follow up courses was held in July and August 2006. The first course was held from 25 to 27 July 2006 and was attended by 23participants. The second course was held from 22 to 24 August 2006 and was attended by 25participants. (Attached please find lists of participants) Of these 48 participants 5 were international participants from Vietnam, Singapore and the US.

Although cotton farming is a major industry in the Namoi Valley, the status of on farm native vegetation and bird life is poorly understood. This project was implemented to improve that understanding.On farm (mostly cotton farms) remnant native vegetation was inspected and sites representative of the main vegetation types were established. A rapid biodiversity assessment method was used to determine and record the vegetative characteristics. Bird surveys were conducted each summer, autumn, winter and spring season over two years and the bird species and individual bird numbers were recorded.Shannon's Diversity Index H was calculated for the bird population of each site and then compared with the recorded vegetative characteristics, The results showed a clear, positive correlation of the bush bird species richness and abundance with vegetation complexity and at sites where vegetation has become simplified as a consequence of 150 years of livestock and farming activities, bird diversity is lower.The results provide guidance for actions most likely to be productive to protect and enhance both vegetative and bird diversity into the future. Another result is the finding that habitat complexity within a wetland and its water body is more attractive to water bird life than the complexity of habitat around a wetland.In the course of this project, relatively simple methods of observation and recording of vegetation status and bird survey were developed which are within the capacity of people not necessarily scientifically trained or with only limited available time yet which will deliver scientifically valid assessment over time. These findings and developments will assist practical management of farm biodiversity into the future.

This report outlines the results of the Cotton Consultants Australia Grower Feedback Survey. The survey was sent to cotton growers across the industry with a response rate of approximately 17 per cent or slightly less than 19 percent of the area of cotton planted in the 2005-2006 season. The 2006 survey included a series of questions specifically for collecting information from growers on water monitoring and Water Use Efficiency (WUE), soil monitoring and management, grower interaction with Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) and equivalent bodies, fertiliser use, management of native vegetation and riparian zones, and monitoring of native and feral animal species.

This project was an integral component of the Education and Training sub-programme as it aimed to encourage an increase of primary and secondary students into science and agriculture based fields of study. This project has potentially alleviated some of the common misconceptions and misunderstandings that exist in schools and the community, surrounding science and agriculture especially with regard to the cotton industry. The project complemented other Cotton CRC education projects which specifically focused on professional and tertiary education. The benefits to the industry from this project will be long term but would hopefully lead to a continued supply of educated workers to the industry and a more science and agriculturally aware community.The project has benefits to the industry by securing an advantage for the industry in the future through access to better educated, professional and loyal employees, and through a community that better understands one of the key industries that underpin its economy.The project has benefits to the community as a whole by attracting and retaining qualified workers and building a professional, profitable and sustainable community.

Final Report - Nutrient release to vetch in cotton systems