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 'SOILpak/by Cotton Growers, ThirdEdition ' *, with emphasis on soil sampling for yield map interpretation. Soil monitoring for farm accreditation schemes were also discussed. Most of the soil

inspections were carried out via 1.5 metre deep backhoe pits, which usually were dug in triplicate.