Nitrogen losses can be high from irrigated cropping soils, but these losses can be minimised with careful attention to N fertiliser management. N is lost principally where nitrate is converted to N gases (denitrification), but also with nitrate leaching. These losses account for 30% of the N fertiliser applied to irrigated cotton on average; these losses can be doubled in extreme cases where poorly-structured soils become waterlogged. Because some fertiliser N is lost as nitrous oxide (N2O), an extremely potent greenhouse gas, inefficient N fertiliser use has become an environmental issue that the cotton industry is addressing with research and improved N fertiliser management practices.

The purpose of this paper is twofold. The first section highlights Biosecurity issues for the Australian Cotton industry while the second section examines the potential impact climate change will have on Biosecurity and our ability to manage endemic and exotic pests and diseases under changing climatic conditions

Our people resource in Australia's Agricultural industries is continuing to decline. We need to recognise that we are going to have to do more with less. Whether we are talking about farmers, agronomists, researchers, teachers or marketers for example; we need to attract and retain the best people and allow for them to fulfil their potential on the land and in rural industries. We cannot de-motivate people from Australian Agriculture. We need to be proactive by creating an industry that is attractive and can provide endless career opportunities.

Poster- Fleabane is an increasing problem in summer fallows and crops in minimal tillage farming systems., * Fleabane produces up to 375,000 seeds per plant., * Fallow weed control costs have doubled due to fleabane in some cropping areas., * Fleabane is relatively tolerant to Roundup (glyphosate) with some populations being resistant to common field rates

A more recent survey by CSD (Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd.) in 2007 targeted growers that were achieving 12 bales /ha cotton yields. They found that 87% of crops that achieved at least 12 bales /ha were planted into fallow fields, the majority of which had grown a cereal since the previous cotton crop. New varieties and improvements in irrigation management are recognised as key drivers of high cotton yields in recent seasons, however yield stagnation or decline in back-to-back cotton fields has also become more apparent. Crop rotation is critical in order for irrigators to achieve the productivity improvements on offer in cotton. The impact cereal rotations have on the soil provides an insight into how crop rotations build an inherently more productive cropping system

Australian companies have approximately $500 million invested in Ginning Infrastructure in Qld and NSW. In recent years due to the prolonged drought these investments have in many if not all areas been under utilized eg. During the 2008 ginning season eleven out of thirty seven gins were closed and the remainder on greatly reduced production.

The Australian Cotton Industry has been actively practising insecticide resistance management for 25 years, with the introduction of the Insecticide Resistance Management Strategy (IRMS) in 1983. Initial focus was on Helicoverpa armigera, and managed resistance primarily to the pyrethroids and endosulfan. The IRMS has since evolved to include aphids, mites, and whiteflies with guidance provided also for mirids. There are now more than 18 chemical groups managed for these 5 cotton pests.

A simulation framework, VARIwise, is being developed to evaluate control strategies for cotton irrigation via lateral moves and centre pivots. VARIwise allows for field scale variations in input parameters and will simulate various levels of control for site-specific irrigation at different spatial scales. The simulation model is presently OZCOT. The work reported on this poster provides a preliminary demonstration of the framework for conceptual purposes only

The Australian cotton industry has faced countless threats over the years and capitalised on many opportunities. We have a strong, resilient supply chain which is constantly evolving and adapting to change. The businesses that make up our industry are some of the most professional and knowledge hungry enterprises in Australian Agriculture. I believe three key areas will determine our ultimate success; farming system development, product improvement and infrastructure investment.

During work conducted between 2003 and 2006 on the potential for genetically modified cotton to affect soil microbiota it became apparent that variety type can influence microbiology associated with the rhizosphere. To further investigate this we commenced a project to determine the influence of current commercial cotton varieties on their associated rhizosphere microbial populations and functions. Over the duration of the project we have shown that different cotton varieties can significantly influence rhizosphere microbial populations and functions, and we have made some progress into understanding how these differences are brought about. The significance of these observations, with particular reference to reduced or more efficient input systems are discussed. Further research is required before field recommendations can be made.