* Cotton aphid and two-spotted mite were collected from Australian cotton growing regions and tested in the laboratory for insecticide resistance., * For the third consecutive season molecular testing was used to detect pirimicarb and organophosphate resistance in field collected cotton aphid strains. Bioassay and molecular testing were conducted in parallel. Similar results where obtained by both methods in their characterisation of pirimicarb and organophosphate resistant aphid strains., * Pirimicarb and organophosphate resistance associated with control failure was detected in one cotton aphid sample from the Macquarie Valley in 2006-2007. In 2007-2008 aphids were scarce in the Macquarie Valley so no samples were collected. However one strain from St George is pirimicarb resistant and one strain from Gwydir has produced resistant isolates (a mix of susceptible and resistant)., * Prima facie acetamiprid resistance has been detected in cotton aphid for the first time but additional testing is required for confirmation., * Propargite, chlorfenapyr (Intrepid ), abamectin and bifenthrin (Talstar ) resistance were detected in two-spotted mite strains but resistance patterns to the specific chemicals were not the same across seasons

During the recent drought that affected much of Australia, particularly in Queensland and New South Wales, the volume of containerised imports through the Port of Brisbane increased significantly. Indeed as far as containers are concerned, Brisbane is now predominately an import port. This fundamental transformation has led to changes in what were traditional options for exporting cotton out of Brisbane. These changes, and other developments at the Port of Brisbane, are detailed in this paper, and will hopefully aid the cotton exporter, in the next and foreseeable seasons. Specifically, the Corporation will look at recent changes to cargo trends, container supply and type, shipping services, changing cotton destinations, warehousing, and road and rail connections.

Plant parasitic nematodes are serious pathogens of cotton worldwide and have potential to increase the severity of vascular wilts. In Australia, disease caused by nematodes has not been reported in cotton and the potential for interaction between nematodes and vascular wilts has not been investigated. We briefly investigated whether or not plant pathogenic nematodes were associated with cotton crops in the Namoi Valley of NSW, including plants with severe symptoms of Verticillium wilt

When I first received the brief from Brendon, "Young Leaders on New Beginnings for the Cotton Industry" my first thoughts were, why did I say yes. Obviously the three of us here today or the rest of the future young leaders group cannot give you straight up easy solutions that will instantly solve all of the challenges cotton faces now or in the near future. But as a team we can work together to ensure the success of the industry

, While the cotton industry and irrigated agriculture as a whole has been battered by the continuing drought, industry leaders are looking to the future. They are well away of the importance of R & D to agriculture's long term prosperity and the sustainability of rural communities. The challenge is to continue to develop innovative and resilient farming systems that successfully integrate the mosaic of multiple crops within the overlaying challenges of climate, economics and policy imperatives. The cotton industry leaders will work with the industry and other industries to develop a collaborative R & D structure beyond 2012 and welcome input and ideas on this issue

High temperature stress adversely affects the growth, development and ultimately yield of cotton. This paper presents a general outline of studies evaluating methodologies that measure the ability of cotton to tolerate high temperatures. Simple methodologies that measured plant response to high temperature stress at different scales (field to laboratory) are being assessed for their ability to detect differences between cotton cultivars. Preliminary measurements on known heat tolerant and susceptible cultivars taken at a whole plant, leaf, cell and at the individual gene levels suggest that there is indeed variation among cultivars, and there is opportunity to detect differences in their ability to withstand high temperatures with simple laboratory tests. These methodologies are being further evaluated to establish their value in identifying thermotolerant cotton cultivars from a broader range of cotton germplasm for potential use in cotton breeding programs.

Data from last season was used to test the critical period for weed control approach for irrigated and dryland Roundup Ready Flex cotton crops. The critical period for weed control was applied to dirty, average and clean fields, where weeds emerged after each rainfall and irrigation event. Applying the critical period approach required that the start of weed control began soon after crop emergence, while weeds were still small. A lighter herbicide rate might be appropriate for small weeds. The duration of the critical period depended on the density of weeds that emerged after the first treatment. All weed flushes in the 2007-08 season were controlled using Roundup during the critical period, with an inter-row cultivation or an early application of a residual layby herbicide available as an additional weed management tool if required. The results show that ensuring weeds are controlled soon after emergence is a practical approach to weed control which will help optimize crop yields. The approach can be equally applied to irrigated and dryland crops using Roundup Ready Flex, Liberty Link or conventional cotton varietie

We are now in uncharted waters as to our best way forward; are we just experiencing a dry cycle or is this, the permanent weather pattern for the foreseeable future - "Climate Change"; nobody really knows. However, what we do know is that we have to adapt our farming programme and practices to make the most of this precious resource, WATER.

Herbicide resistance is an ever increasing hurdle for sustainable agriculture, not only in Australia but worldwide. Currently there are 319 resistant biotypes of 185 weed species that are resistant to herbicides from the majority of herbicide mode of action groups across the globe (Heap 2008). To glyphosate alone there are 13 resistant species world wide, two of which include populations of awnless barnyard grass and annual ryegrass in Australia. A closer examination of the situation in Australia shows that there are populations of 34 weed species resistant to 12 herbicide mode of action groups (Table 2 contains a list of these groups). Whilst the majority of these species are located in southern Australia, a significant number of these weeds are those that can be found in cotton growing regions, whether in the cotton crop itself or in other parts of the rotation

Cotton pickers with on-board module builders (OBMB) eliminates the need for boll buggies, module builders, the tractors, and labor needed to operate this machinery. Additionally, field efficiency may be increased due to less stoppage for unloading and/or waiting to unload. This study estimates the cost of production per pound of lint from harvest through ginning for a standard 6-row picker with the needed support equipment (e. g. module builders, boll buggies, tractors and labor), and two versions of the OBMB pickers that build their own modules, Case IH 625 Cotton Module Express (Red System) and John Deere 7760 (Green System). Analysis showed that the Red System had the lowest harvesting/operating costs per acre. Operating costs were lower for the Red System than the Green, due primarily to the lower assumed purchase price. The Red and the Green System's harvesting costs were lower than the 6RStandard picker, due to the elimination of the equipment and labor expenses associated with the boll buggies and module builders. The Red System also had lower per acre costs delivered to the gin, primarily due to the lower assumed expenses for tarps/covers and module handling as compared to the Green System. Both OBMB systems had a lower cost over the standard 6-row picker.