A plant disease is an interaction between a plant host, a pathogen and the environment. Most plants are immune or completely resistant to almost all plant pathogens. When a virulent pathogen is dispersed onto a susceptible host and the environmental conditions are suitable then a plant disease develops and symptoms become evident. Disease control strategies must therefore focus on the host, the pathogen and/or the environment. 'Integrated Disease Management' involves the selection and application of a harmonious range of control strategies that minimise losses and maximise returns.

A field experiment comparing irrigation treatments of 100% of predicted ETCrop applied with subsurface drip irrigation with 50%, 75% and 125% ETCrop was conducted at Warren in the 1999/2000 season. Cotton yield of 7.8 bales/ha was greatest in the 100% treatment followed by the 75% and 125% treatments with lowest yield coming from the 50% treatments. This yield trend, combined with similar soil moisture contents in the 100% and 125% treatments indicated that the 100% treatment was supplying adequate water to satisfy crop demand. Neutron probe readings showed that treatments receiving insufficient water to satisfy crop demand were able to extract water from part of the soil profile that was not wet by irrigation. Use of this water allowed the 50% and 75% treatments to grow at similar rates to the 100% and 125% treatments for I month in peak growing conditions after the soil was saturated by rain moisture in late December.

An understanding of likely impact of water stresses on yield and quality is important for developing optimum irrigation practices for cotton in the region. Irrigationg a crop for 12 h to 24 h depending upon the bed length (between 200 in and 500 m) is a common practice in the valley (Wood et al 1998). This practice of extended duration of irrigation is commonly associated with shallow rooted crops on 1.8 m wide beds. This might contribute to water logging stress in dins cracking clay son as Hearn and Constable (1984) and Hodgson and Chan (1982) reported inadequate soil aeration for cotton in a clay soil after furrow irrigation. Furthermore, a rapid onset of water deficit stress, particularly in the top 30 cm soil profile which dries out within 5 to 10 days of watering has also been observed due to a hot and dry conditions in the Ord (Muchow and Keating, 1998). The aim of his study was to compare the relative magnitude of water logging and water deficit stresses on plant water status and yield between wide and ridge beds for a range of irrigation management systems Gravimetric and volumetric soil water contents and air-filled porosity were measured to a depth of 1.2 my before and 48 h after irrigation.

The theme of the conference is "Meeting the Challenge". Amongst the many challenges the cotton industry faces are a host that relate to water. Uppermost in most people's minds are probably the increasing restrictions on access to irrigation water resulting from the COAG reform process. However, I am not addressing the reform process itself, which is economic and political, but the technical challenges that led up to it, or follow from it.

Water is one of the key resources for industry and economic development in Australia. It is one of the main inputs to maximise the production of the cotton plant. Due to the rising pressures on the use and allocation of the national water resource (and in particular the Murray Darling Basin) "water use efficiency" has gained an ever increasing profile. The term typically means different things to different people. If one thing were common however it would be to maximise the opportunities for benefit from the water through optimal management of that water.

CRDC and its investment in research, development and extension on behalf of the Australian cotton industry is guided by a five year Strategic Plan. The 2013-18 Strategic Plan sets the direction for the organisation and its investment and is designed to help the industry achieve its long-term vision, and the Government its rural R&D priorities.

The Plan outlines the strategic outcomes CRDC is striving to achieve in five priority areas: farmers, industry, customers, people and performance.

Polymeria takeall, or Peak Downs curse, is a deep rooted, rhizomatous, perennial weed which spreads from seeds and rhizomes. It tolerates cultivation and can be spread by cultivation. In-crop it can best be managed with repeated, heavy applications of glyphosate on actively growing polymeria, applied through well constructed shields. Good crop agronomy is also important, resulting in competitive, strong cotton. Polymeria in fallow can be controlled with glyphosate on actively growing patches and with Starane in autumn. Heavy rates of Arsenal may be useful on waste areas.

Silverleaf Whitefly (SLW) is a major pest

due to its ability to contaminate cotton

lint with honeydew. Management of SLW requires a year round Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach as SLW are highly mobile, can quickly build resistance to many insecticides and numbers can rapidly expand especially if natural enemies are reduced by insecticides. This document provides recommendations for effective monitoring and best management of SLW in Australian cotton.

This project is investigating water bird communities on cotton storages in the Gwydir and Namoi Valleys. This project will provide information on the use of water storages by water bird populations with links to habitat and management.

Salinity has increasingly been identified as one of the most serious environmental issues facing Australia (PMSEIC, 1998; MDBC, 1999). Although there has been an increase in awareness of salinity throughout the community there is still a perception that salinity is a soil related issue and that the major impact is on the agricultural sector. These perceptions and limited understanding of the processes contributing to salinity have led to many in the cotton industry dismissing salinity as a threat without considering the fundamental drivers of salinity and their relevance to cotton producing regions. In this paper, I will attempt to provide a brief "report card" on the most significant salinity related issues for each of the major cotton growing districts. In some areas, salinity problems can be observed right now, although in many cases this paper will highlight the presence of significant "risk" factors for the future. The delineation of key risk factors for each region allows the industry to be pro-active in its management of salinity problems and examine management alternatives, which will minimise the impact of salinity on both agricultural productivity and water quality.