A warmer and drier climate has been projected in Australia especially for the inner part of Australia (CSIRO, 2007) which covers the cotton production regions.

This report presents the key outcomes of a collaborative research study between NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC).

Energy costs are the second largest gross margin cost item for Australian cotton growers after wages. Half of this cost is consumed in pumping water for irrigation.

Financial performance benchmarking studies have identified increasing fertiliser input costs in the cotton industry.

Irrigated cotton growers stand to make substantial savings in fuel and greenhouse gas emissions in tractor operations if appropriate tractor engine and ground speeds are used and tillage depth is kept to the shallowes