CRDC hosted a Futures Forum (Dec 2013) where key industry participants considered the future of the Australian cotton industry and the type of R&D investments that will make the industry profitable, sustainable and competitive into the future. The Forum was a starting point to help the CRDC identify areas of key priority for investment into the future.

The Australian Cotton Comparative Analysis provides the industry benchmark for the economics of cotton growing in Australia. The report focuses on the economics of the 2014 crop from growers across the different cotton-growing valleys. It also presents trends that have been measured against more than 10 years of data. The Cotton Comparative Analysis is a joint initiative of CRDC and Boyce Chartered Accountants.

Key findings for Narrabri include:. Narrabri population has been steadily declining over the last two decades with significant losses in the 15-24 year old age bracket.. Narrabri has a high rate of participation at 9% in higher and adult education.. Agriculture is a dominant industry in Narrabri and accounts for 29% of the GRP and 70% of the exports from the region.. Scientific research is an important component of the Narrabri economy.. Of the communities studied, Narrabri has the highest proportion of people with tertiary qualifications

The social and economic conditions of Cotton Catchment Communities have been documented in a set of case studies. The project The Socio-economic Impact of the Australian Cotton Industry of Regional Communities in NSW and Queensland was undertaken during 2007-08 analysing population census and other data to describe the social and economic conditions and to provide direction for the future development of those communities.

Birds, bats, spiders, wasps and other predatory insects contribute to pest control in the crop this is your natural workforce. To reap the benefit of your natural workforce, simply look after the bushland on your farm.

Aphids, once only a secondary pest in cotton are now a major problem for growers in some regions. Problems associated with aphid in Australian cotton include vectoring of cotton bunchy top disease, yield reductions from large early season infestations and late season effects of honeydew on fibre quality. Aphids ability to reproduce asexually has an impact on resistance management as does their ability to overwinter on non cotton hosts.

Research , Extension, Adoption in the Cotton Catchment Communities catchment Program

Cotton Bunchy Top (CBT) characteristics and modes of transmission

Water is critical to agriculture. Sustainable water use inAustralia must encompass economic, environmental andcommunity needs. The CRC's goals are to ensure the Australian cotton industry continually strives for high water use efficiencies using science and education to deliver profitable and practical outcomes.

This fact sheet includes information on:Preparing for drillingBore site selectionDesign of bore Drilling and construction Test pumping, operation and monitoring Rehabilitation and decommissioning.