One hundred & seventy people were given training in soil assessment and management, Hands-on training in soil management was given to one hundred & seventy members of, the Australian cotton industry at a series of 11 courses between October 1997 and, September 1999. The courses were held in the Narrabri, Warren, Moree, Emerald,, Dalby, Wee Waa, Goondiwindi, Gunnedah, Theodore. Walgett and Bourke districts., The main aim of the courses was to demonstrate how to use 'SO!Lpak for Cotton, Growers, Third Edition ' *, with emphasis on soil sampling for yield map interpretation., Soil monitoring for farm accreditation schemes also was discussed. Most of the soil, inspections were carried out via 1.5 metre deep backhoe pits, which usually were dug in, triplicate. The courses focussed on the needs of Private Consultants and Government, Advisers associated with the cotton industry - a summary of course attendees is shown,

During the 1995/96 and 1997/98 cotton-growing seasons there was an inverse relationship between the population densities of dominant benthic macroinvertebrates and concentrations of endosulfan in the Namoi River. Laboratory toxicity testing with these same species indicated that endosulfan concentrations that have been measured in the Namoi River during storm events would cause decreases in the population densities of mayflies and caddisflies as well as fish. The dominant toxic component of endosulfan in riverine samples was the metabolite endosulfan sulfate indicating that its most likely source is from land run-off during storm events. Throughout both cotton-growing seasons, the mean total endosulfan concentrations in passive samplers constructed of solvent-filled polyethylene bags at the high-exposure sites were 10-25 times higher than those at the reference sites. Ousing passive sampling methods, pesticide concentrations measured in solvent-filled polyethylene bags placed in the water column has potential as a tool to audit the impact of Best Management Practices, implemented by the Cotton Industry, on pesticides entering the riverine environment.

Project Objectives 1. To quantify the effectiveness of trap crops. 2. To quantify the impact of trap crops on egg densities in surrounding cotton. 3. To quantify egg production and temporal behaviour of moths within trap crops and in associated cotton crops. 4. To apply the HEAPS simulation model in order to evaluate and improve area wide management strategies based on trap cropping. 3

List the project objectives:Improve efficacy of pesticides by increasing the amount of spray reaching the target by reducing the losses due to evaporation of spray before it reaches the target. Reduce incidences of off target impact by reducing spray application under adverse environmental conditions. Improve the pesticide application skills and knowledge of growers and operators. Increase the number of and use of ground rigs that are properly set up. Provide users and operators with information products detailing current research information. Examine and support information flows to aerial operators.

Aims * To quantify the relationship between cotton plant spatial arrangement and soil water dynamics, and its effect on raingrown cotton yield and quality. * Provide data to assist the further development of cotton simulation models, to enable the outcome of various management scenarios relating to row configuration to be determined.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES To monitor pyrethroid, endosulfan, organophosphate and carbamate resistance in H. armigera and H. punctigera. from all cotton areas and to refine resistance management strategies. Determine the genetic basis of carbamate in H. armigera and H. punctigera and organopbosphate resistance in H. armigera To develop and promote use of rapid biochemical techniques for the detection of organophosphate and carbamate resistance in the field. To evaluate new insecticides for Helicoverpa control, establish baseline susceptibility data and investigate their inherent resistance potential

The project aims are: * Construction of additional cages to isolate field-collected strains of A. gossypii. * Establishment of additional base-line data. * Generation of monitoring data against endosulfan bifenthrin, esfenvalerate, deltamethrin pirimicarb, dimethoate and profenofos for field-collected strains of A. gossypii using a discriminating-dose technique * To conduct full log-dose assays on strains that do not show 100% mortality at the discriminating-dose to give resistance levels.

The aim of this study was to (1) improve our understanding of predator responses to prey, predator/prey interactions and factors limiting their efficacy in cotton systems, (2) improve the performance of Envirofeast product developed in DAN 68 and 89C (3) develop strategies to attract, conserve and utilise beneficial insects as basic components of IPM in cotton and (4) manage green mirids and aphids through conservation of beneficial insects.

The silverleaf whitefly (SL W), Bemisia tabaci B-biotype, was first discovered in Australia in 1994. SLW is a major pest of cotton in many overseas countries and poses a considerable threat to cotton in Australia. Consequently a monitoring system using surveys has been run over the past two years to: * Monitor the distribution and abundance of the whitefly, * Record its hosts, and * Assess the degree of natural biological control provided by indigenous parasitoid

We have developed a reliable and cost-effective plan for deciding whether a crop has sufficient green mirids to warrant controlling them. This method provides an industry-wide standard that all consultants can use to accurately estimate green mirid populations. Consultants and fanners now have two different strategies, insecticides alone or with luceme strips (as developed by Dr R. Mensah), to manage green mirids in cotton. After using the above sampling method, a decision on treating a crop for green mirids depends on the numbers found after sampling six sites per field. Growers may not be able to solely rely on heliothis egg parasites to control late season larvae. However, they contribute to a fully integrated pest management program