Water-use efficiency of cotton production and minimising the impact of the cotton industry on the environment have emerged as issues of great importance.

Irrigation in the Australian cotton industry has traditionally been dominated by the use of furrow irrigation practiced almost exclusively on the heavy clay soils associated with riverine flood plains.

In 2000/01, the Australian cotton industry produced approximately 3.4 million bales with a gross estimated value of 1.7 billion dollars.

Two key hormones, ecdysone and juvenile hormone, control metamorphosis and moulting in insects.

Distributed across every major cotton growing region, the Australian Cotton CRCs National Extension Network aims to enhance the returns to industry accruing from the implementation of research and development.