My presentation 'Winning back markets for Australian cotton is an important topic. I have been buying Australian cotton for over 20 years and supplying it to spinning mills in Japan and other countries also. My company Toyoshima has been operating as a cotton and textile merchant for over 175 years, so we are committed to the cotton business.

The potential for chilling conditions in many Australian cotton growing regions during early growth and development stages demonstrates the need for assessing cold tolerance of cultivars. Preliminary studies have been initiated to assess a range of simple techniques to detect cold tolerance between cultivars. Early results have been positive in detecting some differences between cultivars. The laboratory germination test where seeds are germinated at temperatures of 14 degreesC for 4 days showed some potential for providing an indication of differences in germination and early establishment

This study reports on field trials using Magnet formulation with insecticide to determine the effect of applying the attracticide to a centrally located BollgardII (Bt) cotton crop on levels of Helicoverpa spp. adults, eggs and larval populations on surrounding conventional cotton crops and the cost effectiveness of the attract and kill strategy.

The principal sources of greenhouse gas emissions on mixed cotton farming enterprises include CO2 from decomposition of crop residues added to soils and native soil organic matter, and the combustion of fuels. Nitrous oxide (N2O) with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 296 (i.e. one N2O molecule is equivalent to 296 CO2 molecules in terms of its ability to warm the atmosphere) is also produced during transformation of both mineral (fertiliser) and organic (legume) nitrogen applied to soils. The latter also includes the decomposition of crop & pasture residues. Nitrous oxide is also produced in smaller quantities in association with atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and nitrate leaching (the latter usually restricted to irrigated soils or high rainfall regions). Where urea is applied, CO2 is also released to the atmosphere. In the case study outlined in this paper, urea based fertilisers were not applied. If animals are included in the farming enterprise, methane emissions (CH4) also need to be included. Methane has a GWP of 23

A new relationship between the Cotton Industry and Regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) bodies has successfully capitalised on the implementation of NRM Best Management Practices within cotton catchments. The Regional NRM bodies' co-investment with research organisations such as the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC (Cotton CRC) enables them to align their on-ground investment to the latest research, to gain greater access to technical specialists and gives them credibility when working with growers. From an industry perspective it enables incentive funding by Regional NRM Bodies to be directly linked to the farming systems in order to achieve both production and catchment outcomes. As a result these partnerships link incentives and support available, to farmer's practical management changes. This accelerates the implementation of best management practices on cotton farms and enables the industry to demonstrate to the broader community its responsible stewardship of these resources. This paper presents two examples of how these partnerships work to improve water management and highlights some of the catchment and industry outcomes that can be obtained from such partnerships.

In Australia, about 85% of cotton farmers grows transgenic (Bt) cotton. Bt cotton controls only Lepidopteran pests but is not effective against sucking pests. Control of these pests and also b Helicoverpa spp. in conventional and Helicoverpa survivors on transgenic cotton crops relies extensively on the use of synthetic insecticides. The issues of cost, efficacy, resistance and environmental impacts have led to the increased implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. Crop plants including cotton can produce secondary plant compounds (SPCs) to protect the plants against pest predation. The SPCs can modify pest behaviour by acting as feeding and oviposition deterrents, attractants or repellents to reduce pest damage. Toxicity of SPCs are not as high as synthetic insecticides but when this toxicity is added to the other effect of SPCs their combined efficacy against the pest is high. For the past 6 years, research by NSWDPI has identified a plant codenamed Plant X. Fractionated extracts from the plant in Hexane and oil has been found to deter pest feeding, egg lay and cause toxicity to larvae and nymphs of cotton pests. Generally, Plant X has intuitive appeal because the product can be used in IPM as a stand alone or reduced label rates of synthetic insecticides to reduce Synthetic insecticide sprays

In this article we highlight analyses that are being conducted to unravel the degree of effects that contribute to differences in micronaire. Here we present some results that show the affects of variety, boll load and temperature. We also present examples of how we are using the knowledge to assess how seasonal affects are contributing to differences in micronai

Results from silicon (Si) trials support prior research that silicon may be important in reducing the severity of fusarium wilt in cotton seedlings. Si amendments were identified that reduced disease severity under glasshouse conditions when applied to field soil, but were not effective under field conditions. It is possible that inoculum load was too high at the field site for an effect of Si fertilization to be realized. Increasing nutrient availability in an alkaline soil also can be difficult and may have contributed to poor uptake. Another consideration is that placement of fertiliser, which dictates availability of Si for uptake, may not have been optimal.

The Measuring Community Wellbeing in Cotton Communities Study was commissioned by the Cotton Catchments Communities Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) to better understand the socio-economic status of communities where cotton production and its associated activities form a significant component of the regional economy. Study areas, by Local Government Area, included Moree Plains, Narrabri, Narromine, Warren, Dalby/Wambo and Millmerran. The study developed a framework and set of social, economic and environmental indicators based on notions of community wellbeing and social sustainability that can be used to measure how the selected 'cotton communities' are performing against relevant state and national benchmarks over time, and to aid in better understanding the relationship between the industry and community wellbeing. The investigation spanned a period of drought that affected both irrigators and dry-land farmers to varying degrees across the study areas. Most indicators relate to 2005-06 including the August ABS Census, which preceded the peak of drought conditions for irrigators and cotton production. The energy and mining boom has been gathering momentum since 2000 and has emerged as a major factor driving development in Narrabri and the Darling Downs. These two events are impacting communities in very pronounced ways, both economically and socially. The importance of studies that track changes in community wellbeing should not be underestimated, as they will serve a significant role in better understanding the relationship between the wellbeing of communities and the cotton industry over time and in a constantly changing environment.

Dall'Alba notes that we have no shortage of competitors', and 'we should not take the current high rating of our Australian cotton for granted'. Rather 'we need to continue improving our Australian cotton while not sacrificing yield' in the belief that 'superior products create their own markets'. Adopting this sentiment this paper will (a) explore the key fibre quality attributes that relate to the 25c/lb market gap or barrier between where Australian cotton is currently positioned and 'Extra Long Staple' cotton and (b) describe technical opportunities CSIRO has been investigating to 'capture' some of this gap for Australian cotton.