The need to develop marketing strategies for the Australian cotton crop appears to be imperative. If we are to continue to develop nev.1 cotton varieties.

Heliothis spp. have two main attributes which give rise to their pest status and make them difficult to manage (see Fitt this volume).

If research gaps exist, we are all at fault. If researchers are thought of as 'being in their own little world', it is a ref lection of poor communication efforts on the part of producers and advisors.

The development and release of SIOKRA, the new okra-leaf variety, has created considerable interest with respect to pest management.

The presentation hereunder is a collation of views of consultants from the Darling Downs and the St George regions. The following points will be considered: (a) Are research needs being addressed by researchers?

Program and proceedings index. - This conference will be far more than just a research conference.

We believe the success of the modern cotton farmer is becoming more dependent upon his being made aware of, selecting and implementing appropriate research and new technology.

Early crop protection is a controversial subject in modern pest management. Grower magazines in Australia and the U.S. carry articles expressing firm opinions both for and against.

The threat of resistance has been realised, and no doubt will continue to be realised in the future. What then is the cost once resistance has developed?

The scouting of cotton for eggs and larvae of Heliothis spp is a labour intensive and therefore expensive undertaking.

Greg Constable and I have previously shown that in the Namoi Valley an irrigation water supply of 8 ML per ha is needed to obtain maximum yields in the driest years.

In the era of nearly total reliance on pesticides, there was general disregard of the fact that even the simplest agroecosystem presents a complicated maze or delicately balanced ecological interactions.

Factors which influence the efficacy of an NPV application These include: (i) the initial actjvity of the virus preparation, distribution (.i.i) lts rate or application and distribution on the crop, (Jji) Its persiste

Three species of pest mites are found in cotton in NSW and Qld: the two spotted mite, Tetranychus urticae, the bean mite, T. ludenli, and the strawberry mite, T. lambi. Of these T.

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The visits to research institutions proved extremely enlightening and valuable.

This 3 year study examined the relationships between catches of Heliothis adults in monitoring traps and the abundance of eggs on cotton crops.