White specks (undyed neps) in dyed fabric samples are a quality problem that arises from neps of immature cotton. Dr Grant's research aimed to correlate the white speck neps back to fibre properties and gin parameters. The number of white speck in a fabric sample were being measured at the USDA by first scanning a sample of fabric (approximately A4 size) using a commercial computer scanner and then the image analysed to determine the number of white specks(neps) using specially written software. Project changed direction with new approach evolving which was successful. Work taken up with CTFT5

Feasibility trials conducted showed that the addition of lubricant helped preserve fibre length during lint cleaning. In laboratory trials three different lubricants (A, B and C) preserved fibre length in fibre breakage assay based on a 'Shirley' Analyser. Measured fibre-to-metal co-efficient of friction values for each lubricant were sigiificantly different with Lubricant B having the lowest fibre-to-metal friction values. It was on this basis and the extent to which fibre length was preserved in laboratory trials that Lubricant B was initially chosen for industrial trials in a gin. However, results from the industrial trials did not fit the laboratory model and Lubricant B produced a decrease in staple length and an increase in short fibre content when added in a commercial gin. A subsequent trial using Lubricant A, a lubricant that had a higher fibre-to-metal co-efficient of friction, resulted in improved staple length and reduced short fibre content on treated cotton. The reason for the difference between the two lubricants is

thought to be due to a reaction, facilitated by the heat of the gin, between the emulsifiers present in Lubricant B with the protective cotton wax layer that surrounds each fibre. That Lubricant A was more successful raises questions about the complexity of the interactions between variables in the industrial situation and generates plants, of scope for further research. Lubricants were also added to cotton at the mill. Treated and untreated fibre from the gin trials was converted to fine count medium twist yam. The effects of lubricant on fibre breakage during mill cleaning and carding, and on spinning performance and yarn quality were observed. The effect of lubricant in the mill on the particular cotton used in this trial was minimal although the addition of Lubricant A helped preserve fibre Iength during cleaning. The better length characteristics were generally reflected as better yarn properties, although yarn tenacity in treated samples was reduced.

The 2016 Australian Cotton Production Manual is a critical reference tool for cotton growers: a one-stop-shop of on-farm cotton production information.

The drought from 2006/07 through 2008/09 seriously impacted the Australian ginning sector. A large number of experienced people left the industry due to the short seasons and having only a handful of gins operating. At the same time there were also losses to the large investment in mining in the decade to 2010. In contrast, the seasons from 2010/11 through 2013/14 were the largest seen in Australia, with all gins in the country working at full capacity with two new large gins added in the southern Murrumbidgee Valley area in 2014/15.

The consequence of drought, the mining boom and then record production years left the industry with limited numbers of skilled and trained ginners, with the consequence that a large number of inexperienced staff were introduced to the industry. One impact of this was that the remaining experienced ginners were stretched across shifts with compromises to the efficiency and effectiveness of gin operations.

This project aimed to address two aspects associated with the deficit of trained ginners. The first was to provide immediate up skilling of ginners and other workers to breach the significant resource capacity gap that, at the time (in 2011/12), was having an impact on the cotton supply chain in terms of ginning capacity. This was achieved by partnering with the Australian Cotton Ginners Association (ACGA) and bringing Lummus and Continental (Bajaj Steel) technicians to Australia to train new gin employees for each of the three years of the proposal. The technician(s) conducted courses in each year of the project to teach new and review with existing gin operators aspects of running a gin efficiently and with improved fibre quality.

The second aspect was to develop an Australian ginning course in association with the overseas ginning companies that would meet future workforce requirements. This part of the project involved the ACGA and the vocational training sector rejuvenating the local (Moree) TAFE ginning course.

The CIE undertook the modelling analysis of the implications of changes in barriers for US production and imports offibre specific yarns, fabrics and apparel, US consumer expenditure on textiles and clothing, and Australian wool production and income.

Australian cotton production is in the process of adopting new trarisgenic

(INGARD) technology for managing heliothis and other caterpillars. INGARD

technology has no effect on sucking insects such as green mirids, and under the low

insecticide use patterns envisaged using INGARD cotton, the status of sucking pests

in general will increase. In the past, most insecticides applied to control heliothis,

inadvertently controlled sucking pests. As these are removed from operations,

sucking pests will survive in the crop.

Conventional cotton producers also have an awareness of the need to adopt a more

selective approach to early season pest management. Both these approaches

highlight the need to develop sound management practices for sucking pests in

general, and green mirids in particular, as current insecticide treatments against

these pests are invariably disruptive to beneficial fauna. Some of the new, more

selective insecticides for green mirids (e. g. fipronil, imiacloprid) will be more

expensive than organophosphates and pyrethroids, further highlighting the need for

careful consideration about when and how to control green mirids.

Since the early 1960s, global agricultural output has increased at rates and to levels that are unprecedented in human history Much of the productivity increase is attributed to the breeding of high-yielding crop varieties, intensive use of inorganic fertilisers and pesticides, expansion of irrigation and capital-intensive farm management. However, over the last few decades the euphoria surrounding this 'Green Revolution' has subsided, due to a growing community awareness of the long-term environmental consequences of these practices. Since then, agricultural research has expanded its scope to include sustainable and resource-efficient cropping systems and farm management practices.

A major issue facing the cotton industry in Australia is the potential for surface and groundwater contamination from the inefficient application of nitrogenous fertilisers. This dissertation appraises the merits of applying site-specific nitrogen management to irrigated cotton in Australia, as this system has been hypothesised as being economically and environmentally more sustainable than the traditional 'blanket' approach to the application of crop production inputs. Site-specific crop management (SSCM) utilises new technologies such as Global Positioning System (GPS), yield monitors, orbital-satellites and variable-rate crop applicators to identify within-field crop and soil variability as well as their causes. The rational behind SSCM is 'by identifying within-field variability in crop and soil attributes and their origin', it then becomes possible to optimise crop production inputs such as pesticides and fertilisers on a point- by-point basis. Implicitly, this lowers the potential for their over- and under-application.

The 2nd Australian Cotton Research Conference was held in Toowoomba at University of Southern Queensland, from 8-10 September 2015. CCA’s participant attended over 24 research presentations/sessions as outlined in the conference report Knowledge and information was gained on an extensive range of topics, delivered by many researchers that the agronomist/crop consultancy network has not previously been exposed to. The report prepared by the CCA delegate has been distributed to members and the CCA Board to share insights and relevant information as well as guide the CCA Seminar Organising Team in selecting new and relevant speakers and presentations for the CCA Cropping Solutions Seminar program for 2016.

Through the CCA Expression of Interest process to select its representatives to attend the Conference, awareness of cotton research programs was increased. 44 CCA members downloaded the event program and another 11 people went to the Research Conference website.

The Conference Report prepared by Matt Holding was distributed to 220 CCA Members and other key stakeholders via the CCA Consultants Catchup e-newsletter. Matt’s Conference report is tracking as the most clicked item in at edition of the e-newsletter which highlights the value that consultants place on the opinions and perspectives of their peers and how it is important to encourage members to share information with each other.

The integrated responses of Australian cotton varieties to warmer temperatures, elevated atmospheric [CO2], and altered VPD were assessed in this thesis. Cotton responds strongly to changes in VPD, and hence the VPD environment should be characterised in future climate change studies. Elevated [CO2] impacts cotton growth, physiology and water use, although the magnitude is largely dependent on air temperature and water availability. With elevated [CO2], there are benefits of increased leaf and plant level WUE; however, glasshouse experiments indicate that warmer temperatures may negate the positive impact of increased WUEP with elevated [CO2]. Glasshouse experiments indicate that warmer growing temperatures may increase plant water use and reduce tolerance of water deficits, potentially leading to increased demand for water in Australian cotton production systems; however, this is yet to be determined for plants grown in the field. Therefore, modern cultivars with smaller, more compact growth habits and higher photosynthetic capacity may have an advantage over older cultivars in terms of water use, but there is currently no evidence to suggest that older cultivars are more responsive to elevated [CO2] and warmer temperatures than modern cultivars. These studies also have explored the utility of CETA chambers to assess the integrated effect of projected climate change for cotton grown in the field. Despite limitations of these chambers in terms of meaningful comparisons between chamber and non-chamber treatments, CETA chambers proved a successful method of elevating atmospheric [CO2] and applying conditions of a projected climate to field-grown cotton.

Overall reasons for travel to the USA include: Participate in a visit to the Valent Company to investigate growth regulators for future cotton research; visit with Cotton Inc. to maintain and enhance cotton research collaborations; meet with Gaylon Morgan (Texas cotton specialist) to discuss opportunities for collaborative research; and undertake collaborative research (data analysis) with USDA crop stress laboratory colleagues in Lubbock. Collaborative funding is being used to cover expenses associated with the visit of three Australian Scientistsvisit to Lubbock and North Carolina. Valent are covering costs to Chicago to visit with researchers and their research farm.

This specific travel funding request is to assist with a small trip to College Station Texas to visit with researchers at Texas A&M University. This support is not covered by the USDA support previously outlined above. This investment will enablen Dr Bange to meet with Gaylon Morgan (Texas cotton specialist). Dr Bange is also very keen to collaborate more. Stronger collaborations will be developed by meeting with new researchers in cotton at Texas A&M to understand their current research foci. This is especially important since Dr Tom Cothren passed away last year. Dr cothren was our main research collaborator in physiology in Texas. Dr Cothren was previously one of Nicola Cottee’s PhD Supervisor and has hosted a number of Australian researchers at College Station undertaking research.

Overall outcomes to be achieved:1. Identify new research collaboration opportunities with Cotton Inc. in conjunction with CRDC.

2. Identify growth regulators needed for future cotton research in Australia.

3. Continue analysis of research data with USDA colleagues in the area of environmental stress on fibre quality.

Specific outcome relating to this project request is:

1. Identify new research collaboration opportunities with Texas A&M cotton research efforts.