Dry season cotton production in northern Australia faces considerable challenges if it is to emerge as a sustainable industry. Water for irrigation is abundant in the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) and there are prospects of an increase in arable land with the future development of Ord Stage II. Yields from research trials have been encouraging and some of the early problems, such as shorter fibre length, have been overcome by growing adapted cultivars that produce longer fibres (i.e. SiCot 289I and Siokra V161). Results from initial dry season trials have been reported previously (Strickland and Constable 1995; Yeates at al 1996; Yeates and Constable 1998; Strickland et a1 1998) and management of issues such as irrigation scheduling, fertiliser requirements and the time of sowing are currently brining addressed. However several areas remain that require further research.