The National Cotton Training Coordinator project has involved the development of various training strategies that address this declining skill base. It has concentrated on developing programs that focus on skill set development rather than training for full qualifications. These strategies are the focus of this paper. To discuss this topic, I outline two examples to illustrate how current cotton extension activities are aligned to principles of the vocational education and training (VET) sector. Several national reviews of the VET system support these industry initiatives. The Federal Standing Committee for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry concluded that "the focus in rural skills training should be on skills rather than qualifications". It notes that "the response of industry to the focus on qualifications rather than skills under the current framework has been to design its own training packages to better fulfil its needs" (Commonwealth of Australia, 2007). In addition, the report titled Environmental Scan of Agrifood Industries 'an industry in transition�' acknowledged and supported this position. There is an anomaly within the VET system between how industry obtains its skills and the funding that causes VET to focus towards full qualifications. The report stated " a model which gives flexibility and choice, and enables training providers to legitimately deliver incremental building blocks of skills, as well as full qualifications as paramount" (AFISC, 2008).

Climatic factors such as vapor pressure (the capacity of the air to hold water at a given temperature, which is used to calculate relative humidity) influence crop growth, including how much moisture from the plant is needed for transpiration, Transpiration is important to regulate leaf temperature which influences photosynthesis and crop growth. This study showed that changes in vapor pressure affected the level of stress a plant regardless of the level of soil moisture highlighting the need for irrigation scheduling to reflect both factors. Quantifying these effects is also important where future climate change predictions suggest lower humidity and higher temperature which will increase the evaporative demand on crop

Pyriproxyfen (Admiral), diafenthiuron (Pegasus) and bifenthrin (Talstar) are currently registered for whitefly control in cotton. Monitoring the resistance status of these insecticides in controlling SLW is critical if their usefulness is to be sustained. Resistance monitoring is also important in evaluating the relevance of the Insecticide Resistance Management Strategy (IRMS) guidelines and providing input into developing solutions for looming control issues before they impact on grower productivity. This paper outlines our initial course of action and preliminary results in developing a resistance monitoring program and whitefly identification service

Cotton has been grown very successfully in southern NSW as demonstrated by the very high yields achieved in recent seasons., Any industry expansion will be slow as it is obviously affected by water availability in combination with markets. Cotton is being treated just like any other crop by the MIA, growers that grew cotton this year. The price will be considered this coming season and depending on the approach to marketing there will be growers who may switch back to rice due to the high prices being offered. Like anything the higher the potential for return the higher the risk. Cotton is comparably high in growing cost when compared to maize and rice. In addition adverse weather conditions, particularly at the end of the season, could be more costly for cotton in terms of yield and quality compared to maize and rice

While the southern valleys of NSW present a great opportunity for expansion of the cotton industry, they also present unique challenges from a plant disease perspective. This study will fill in the blanks in our knowledge of seedling pathogens from these regions and assist with the development of IDM strategies for seedling disease in the south

With the introduction of Transgenic Bollgard II cotton Australian populations of green mirid have required targeted insecticidal control, which may select for insecticide resistance in this pest. Unfortunately, no methods are available in Australia to detect resistance or to establish the baseline data used to confirm resistance. To achieve that a simple method is required to culture and maintain a reference strain(s) of mirids. Here we describe a method to breed and culture green mirids, which is a first step toward development of a resistance monitoring program

Discussion with Darling Downs growers and consultants identified a lack of local quantitative results on the response of current Bollgard varieties to different irrigation deficits. The aim of this trial was to demonstrate the value of agronomic management to improve crop water use productivity. The assessment of current furrow irrigation performance, enabled a comparison of irrigation and varietal performance, and demonstrated the relative benefits in water use productivity through improved agronomic and/or furrow irrigation management.

I am going to talk about the changes in the global textile industry over the past few years. The topic will be explored in a few areas:, (i) Current States of Textile Industry, (ii) Recent Changes in China, (iii) Challenges and Opportunities Ahead, (iv) Mega-Trends in the Apparel Market, (v) Changes in Spinning Technology,

The current global food crisis mainly affects the poorest billion citizens on Earth. Yet it is a wake-up call to everyone, because of the risk of further famines, refugee crises and wars., We must all be aware of the position, and if possible, alarmed. Then, we must act - as individuals, as communities, as industries, as countries and as a species., Australia was a leader in the last Green Revolution and we need to rediscover that spirit and that determination to make a difference. We need to replenish both our science and our generosity as a people., The cotton industry is at the forefront of knowledge-based farming in Australia., The challenge that I wish to leave you with is to lead by your example the world's next great farming revolution, whose need is now hard upon us.,

The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Programme was established in 1990 to improve the effectiveness of Australia's research and development effort. It links researchers with industry to focus R&D efforts on progress towards utilisation and commercialisation. It involves collaboration and cooperation across a wide range of organisations, focusing their researchers and extension people towards key strategic outcomes for the industry. The cotton industry has been one of two agricultural industries to have enjoyed the benefits of the CRC program almost since its inception and currently we are around mid-term in our third cotton related CRC. The current funding for the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC ("Cotton CRC") ends in June 2012.