AIM(S):, To assess the growth and biodiversity values of tree plantings of a range of ages, species,, sites, soils, establishment techniques and management in the Namoi Valley;, To provide information for communicating with farmers the environmental benefits of tree, plantings in cotton growing areas of the Namoi Valley, focusing on biodiversity values;, To use the results in the preparation of the project report for honours in the Bachelor of, Natural Resources degree at The University of New England.

Aims and Milestones, *Support the HydroLOGIC Help Desk, and providing assistance to growers and crop, consultants. *Analysis, documentation and implementation of a contact management system (cotton, industry database) for HydroLOGIC registration and support.,*Work alongside programmers developing decision tools for the cotton industry that are, delivered via the Internet and handheld PDA's.,

The IPM Training Coordinator position was created to development, lead and, implement a grower focused short course relating to cotton IPM. The concept for the, course IPM Coordinator position and was developed from a review conducted by, the Rural Extension centre, Jeff Coutts in 1997. This project was commissioned by, the CRDC/CRC to evaluate the adoption and needs for IPM within the Australian, cotton industry. One of the recommendations included the need to develop an, easily identified package on IPM and to implement strategies which best delivered, practical information to the growers and consultants of the industry. Particular, emphasis should be placed on increasing grower involvement in pest management, decisions.

Training in all aspects of cotton production with particular attention given to the, following disciplines., * Integrated pest management, * Plant physiology and nutrition, * Soil and irrigation management, * Establishing effective growers groups and networks.,

Scientific Exchange USA Scientist Dr Tom Sinclair (USDA/University of, Florida) to Narrabri, Following the International Crop Science Congress last year we were presented with a, unique opportunity to host internationally respected crop physiologist Dr Tom, Sinclair in Narrabri. This proposal supported a 10 day visit to Narrabri by Dr Sinclair, following the Crop Science congress to?*Meet with researchers currently working on crop water relationships, (evapotranspiration) and discuss the range of different approaches taken. This is, especially important exposure since we have young researchers starting work in, these areas. * Meet with other researchers working in crop physiology/agronomy and modeling, to discuss research outcomes and approaches taken in the areas of water use, efficiency and simulation modeling of crop growth.* Invite Dr Sinclair to represent his Crop Science Congress talk at Narrabri, 'Increasing yield potential of legume crops - similarities and contrasts with, cereals

Catchment scale modelling is an invaluable tool to determine the impact of policies and, legislation on the catchment outcomes. However, Australia is relatively poor in catchment level, modelling which takes into account the spatial variability of natural resources in the catchment., Current models generally do not take into account all variability. In the United States a GIS, (geographical information systems) based model called AVSWAT has been developed. At each, point in the landscape AVSWAT uses a similar approach to runoff modelling as, PERFECT/HOWLeaky, Professor David E. Radcliffe from the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of, Georgia visited Australia on a scientific exchange grant from the Australian Cotton CRC. The, aims of the visit were to:, ?? Explore the model AVSWAT and discuss the possibilities for using this model as a, catchment management tool in Australia., ?? Explore uncertainty and how uncertainty could be dealt with using AVSWAT

Purpose of Exchange: Attend Visual Basic Developers Conference, This application was for Scott Johnston to attend the Access/ Visual Basic Developers, Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada USA, 8-12 June 2003. Organiser of the conference, was the DEVCON Advisor Magazine with significant support from Microsoft, Corporation., The goal of the conference is to serve as a forum for the exchange of knowledge on, different facets of software development using the Microsoft Access/Visual Basic, development environment. Specific topics that will be addressed are:, ? Integration of Studio.net (New software development platform), ? Exposure to new version of VB, ? Development of web services using Visual Basic, ? Exposure to best practice solutions in VB programming, ? Provide technical training in VB programming,

Scientific Exchange Ms Rose Roche, Purpose of Exchange: Attend the Beltwide Cotton Conferences in Texas as a, speaker, The purpose of this exchange was to attend the Beltwide Cotton Conferences, San, Antonio, Texas USA, 5-9 January 2004. This conference is coordinated by the, National Cotton Council (US)., This forum is recognised as the main conference for cotton research. The, conference consisted of four days of individual reports, panel discussions, handson, workshops and seminars about the latest research developments and their, practical applications in cotton production and processing. The conference fosters, dialogue among cotton producers, processors, scientists, extension personnel and, agribusiness representatives., The program consisted of several broad topics covering all facets of the cotton, industry with over 700 reports in the conference proceedings, the sessions I attended, was primarily from the Physiology conference but also included:, ? Disease, ? Insect Research & Control, ? New Developments from Industry, ? Soil Management & Plant Nutrition,

Outline the background to the project., My current role within the Australian Cotton CRC and CSIRO involves the, development, application and field-testing of computerised decision support tools in, the cotton industry. At present this involves the OZCOT cotton simulation model, and the Water Use Efficiency Calculator, and in the future the HydroLOGIC water, management tool. The purpose of this travel proposal is to attend the 18th, International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), 21-28 July in Montreal,, Canada, and to visit cotton researchers and extension staff in the San Joaquin valley,, California. An important motivation for this proposal is to broaden my knowledge, of water management, which will assist the development and application of the, OZCOT and HydroLogic tools, and to remain up-to-date with current research in, the area of DSS, irrigation management and on-farm application adoption, techniques.

The scientific exchange had the following objectives: *Examine farming systems relevant to tropical Australia, e.g. peanut / cotton on light soils, drip / overhead head irrigation, conservation tillage systems. *Meet with researchers engaged in crop adaptation and climatic risk assessment work similar to my own professional expertise and relevant to tropical Australia. *Meet researchers with expertise with growing cotton in hot arid climates. * If possible visit one Native American / cotton farming partnership in Arizona with respect to its relevance to similar potential partnerships between cotton growers and indigenous Australians