The course covered an introduction to IP, what types of IP existed(copywright, PBR, patents) and what is involved in securing IP (costs and duration). Several cases were presented to the participants as examples. Two case studies of CRDC 'real' proposals were conducted and the participants were subdivided and asked the simple question, 'should we fund this project?'. The groups were provided a IP checklist to compare the application and see if sufficient information was provided.

The project objective of increasing understanding of Canopy Temperature Sensors(CTS) in cotton production systems was achieved by using the technology on farm. The growers were extended information during the season on CTS to further understand how stress events affect cotton growth. A case study that captures the grower experiences over the past four seasons has been produced and can be used by researchers to gain an understanding of how the growers are using the technology and what benefits they are seeing at a farm level. It also shares the key learnings that the cotton growers and the service provider gained over a four-year period. This research provides a summary of the learnings and experience that growers have gained after four seasons of using CTS in the Macquarie Valley. The Macquarie growers saw potential in CTS as another tool to help schedule irrigations to maximise crop production. They used them over four seasons from 2015 to 2018. Porosity Services was contracted to supply the CTS, and each site was integrated with soil moisture probes and weather stations and provide a web-viewing platform for all Macquarie Cotton Grower Association(MCGA) members. CSIRO provided the CTS sensors in 2016 and then from 2016, 17 & 18, Porosity Services was contracted to supply the CTS, and each site was integrated with soil moisture probes and weather stations and provide a web-viewing platform for all MCGA members.

This project was designed to assess the potential of a plant derived antifungal gene (NaD1) for control of cotton pathogens. The NaD1 gene codes for a small protein called a plant defensin. Previous in vitro assays have shown that purified NaD1 can inhibit the germination and hyphal growth of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp vasinfectum (Fov) which causes Fusarium wilt in cotton.

The major aim of the project was to assess the efficacy of the defensin protein, NaD1, against three cotton pathogens: Fusarium oxysporum, Verticillium dahliae which causes Verticillium wilt and Thielaviopsis basicola which causes black root rot.

Four transgenic cotton lines transformed with the NaD1 gene were supplied by Hexima Ltd for this project. The lines expressed the NaD1 protein at high levels in the leaves and roots of seedlings. At least three of the lines had a single copy of the NaD1 gene. The lines were assessed in glasshouse bioassays using either a seedling dip infection method or an infected soil based method. In limited trials, one transgenic line showed enhanced resistance to Fov and T. basicola. Further bioassays with this line to confirm the project findings is planned. In the long term it is hoped that this gene can be transferred into elite varieties to enhance the resistance of Fov in the field.

Latest weather and climate news: Australian rainfall totals (for the week ending 16 Feb 2015); Summary of climate indicators;Rainfall and temperature guidance summary; Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO); Cyclone watch

The project has made significant contributions to further our understanding of causes

and consequences of climate variability and climate change.

Scientifically it has resulted in the publication of 3 international journal papers in

renown climate science journals (Journal of Climate, Climatic Change and

Geophysical Research Letters), 1 chapter in a text book for agricultural students and

practitioners (Principles of field crop production) and approximately 20 conference

papers. This led to better targeted follow-on research as well as increased recognition

by the rural sectors about the value of climate and agricultural systems science to

rural industries.From an industry view, the project has helped to improve the management of climate

sensitive systems by

• quantifying impacts and current limits to predictability of low-frequency

variability (decadal variability and climate change) in economic and

environmental terms

• identifying the MJO as a major contributor to intra-seasonal (high-frequency)

climate variability

• providing an operational prototype of an MJO-based forecast system that has

already proven very popular with rural practitioners

• providing scientific input into the debate on climate change and its likely impacts.

The project has helped to identify adaptation options and highlighted the need

for industry to become proactive regarding their overall attitude to climate

change.

We know energy's one of your fastest growing on-farm costs... but did you know there are ways to reduce both your energy use and the impact on your bottom line

Monitoring and assessing your electricity and diesel use is the key. Monitoring can be as simple as using EnergyCalc Lite to estimate use and costs, and track these over time.

The 2016-17 CRDC Researchers' Handbook is a key resource for all researchers working with, or interested in applying for funding from, the CRDC. Updated annually, the Handbook outlines the key information researchers need to know, including key dates, the application process, funding and stipends available, the payment, evaluation and reporting processes and the CRDC’s intellectual property policy. These, and other critical details needed by researchers are provided in the Handbook. The 2016-17 edition also contains two new items: the CRDC survey policy and our branding guidelines.

Introducing Cotton info Youtube channel with featured video on crop growth stages

SOILpak is a soil management manual for cotton growing on cracking clays. It leads you through the decision-making process to a number of options. The manual presents options rather than hard-and-fast rules. The approach is 'here are the options' rather than 'here are the answers'. Thus it is not a recipe book; it is a decision support system. You choose, and so you stay in control.

Waterlogging can affect both the availability of micronutrients in the soil and the plant's ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. Together, these effects alter the nutrition of plants and consequently the productivity of crops. Waterlogging generally increases the availability of iron and manganese in the soil, but total plant levels sometimes decline because the roots cannot function efficiently when they are stressed for oxygen. Waterlogging generally decreases the soil availability of zinc and copper, and plant tissue concentrations of these micronutrients generally decline under waterlogging. However, concentrations of copper and boron may remain constant, decrease or increase under waterlogging. For example, in a waterlogging experiment on cotton at Narrabri in Jan.1987, when siphons were run for 32 h instead of 4 h per irrigation, the uptake of Zn, Mn and Fe was reduced by 28%, 15% and 8%, respectively. However, Cu uptake increased by 14%