CSIRO required a new prime mover and trailer to transport cone seeder or plot picker to district experiment sites for the breeding program. This new equipment was needed because of the truck age and need for major overhaul, but particularly because the trailer was unsafe in width for loading and unloading and of illegal height

The discovery this season of Fov in many cotton districts previously thought to be free from the disease has sent shock waves throughout the industry. Districts where this disease has been confirmed now include: The Darling Downs, Goondiwindi, Talwood, Theodore, Baralaba, St George and Dirrinbandi in Queensland, and Boggabilla, Mungindi, Moree, Bourke, Boggarbri, Carroll (upper Namoi), Warren and Narromine in New South Wales. The disease has not been found in the production areas of Emerald in Queensland, Tandou and Hillston in New South Wales, Western Australia or the Northern Territory.

This document reports the findings from a survey of drip irrigated cotton growers and equipment manufacturers conducted during May-June, 2000. The survey included 26 faceto- face interviews and three telephone interviews with growers as well as interviews with the major manufacturers, consultants and installers within the industry.

Objectives of the Study Tour For the duration of the study tour, I travelled with three other Australian Cotton Extension Officers. Each officer was investigating their own topic of interest with topics ranging from What are the components of an American farming system? To programs that promoted best management practice techniques on farms. My study tour focused on the current performance and available technology growers access to in their quest to produce UNR cotton. On the tour I was able to consult with ' c 0 researchers and conduct meetings with growers and consultants to discuss their experience of UNR cotton. In conjunction to collating this valuable information I was able to establish communication links with industry personal within America who are associated with UNR cotton. These links will facilitate in information transfer between Australia and the United States on various research topics.

The aim is to house current and future staff for expanded research projects. The better accommodation will improve the facility for work from existing projects and also allow new initiatives to be undertaken

The First Australasian Soilborne Disease (ASDS) was held 9-12 February 1999 on the Gold Coast in Queensland. One hundred and forty eight delegates attended representing a range of industries (sugarcane, cotton, cereals, pineapples, market garden crops, apples, citrus, bananas, turf grass and others) and countries (Australia, China, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, United States and Vietnam). Four international keynote speakers attended and gave stimulating presentations on the following topics:- Soil health - Dr Arlena van Bruggen (USA) Root-microbe interactions (and disease suppression) - Dr Joe Kloepper (USA) Biological control - Dr Deborah Fravel (USA), and Suppressive soils - Dr Claude Alabouvette (France)

The main reason I had applied for funds to attend the conference was to present a poster on aspects of my project so as to receive essential feedback on my research and also to collaborate with scientific experts in similar fields. The conference provided a forum for the exchange of technical information on molecular genetics with special application in particular plant species including cotton. I felt that it would be beneficial to attend the conference to obtain necessary information and experience for the successful completion of my project

This project involved a travel grant for the purpose of attendance by CRC and CROCsupported personnel at two international congresses (IUPAC's International Congress on Pesticide Chemistry, London August 2-7, 1998 and World Cotton Congress 2 ln Athens, 1998). The CRC personnel who attended included Professor Ivan Kennedy, Dr Francisco Sanchez-Bayo, and CRDC-supported post-graduate students Ms Lynda! Hugo, Mr Angus Crossan and Mr Shuo Wang. The grant of $6,900 provided partial cover of the travel expenses involved, which was made up with other funds from the University and from personal resources. A significant impact was made at both congresses through the presentations made and there have been a number of researchrelated benefits to the cotton industry arising from these congresses.

This project aimed to improve technical capability to study the transport off-farm in i water and on sediments of pesticides such as endosulfan and members of the 'benzoyphenylurea (BPU) family. This was achieved mainly as the result of adaptation t of existing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for field studies, as well as the generation of new assays

tour was undertaken to the USA by four members of the Australian Cotton CRC National Extension team. The tour group was as follows: * Greg Salmond, Senior Development Extension Officer, QDPI, FSI (Dalby) * James Quinn, Cotton Industry Development Officer, NSW Agriculture (Moree) * Mark Hickman, Cotton Industry Development Officer, NSW Agriculture (Gunnedah). * David Kelly, Development Extension Officer, QDPI, FSI (Emerald) The principal objectives of my study tour were to raise my awareness and understanding of the following: * the roles and methods adopted by USA extension staff, farmers, and consultants in the application of Best Management Practice (BMP) systems. * the integration of the extension of technology with the implementation of such programs.