Ripe cotton

Cotton was first grown in Queensland around 1857. From then, production was maintained with variable rain grown plantings until 1954 when production ceased until the commencement of the contemporary industry as it is today.

The contemporary Australian cotton industry commenced in about 1960 with the planting of irrigated crops in the Namoi Valley of New South Wales (NSW) and on the Darling Downs in Queensland. Since then, production has continued to expand in both states despite the constraints of drought and limited irrigation water supplies in more recent years. Rain-grown (dryland) crops are produced in some regions, notably the Darling Downs and Border Rivers regions in Queensland.

Approximately two-thirds of Australia's cotton is grown in NSW, with the remainder produced in Queensland.

Major production areas

The major production area in NSW stretches south from the Macintyre River on the Queensland border, and covers the Gwydir, Namoi and Macquarie valleys. In NSW, cotton is also grown along the Barwon and Darling rivers in the west, and the Lachlan and Murrumbidgee rivers in the south.

In Queensland, cotton is grown mostly in the south on the Darling Downs, St George, Dirranbandi and Macintyre Valley regions. The remainder is grown near Emerald, Theodore and Biloela in Central Queensland. A small commercial area of irrigated cotton was also grown in the Burdekin.

The application of biotechnology and the adoption of transgenic varieties have reduced the use of agricultural chemicals in the production of cotton by as much as 90%. This reduction in chemical use demonstrates the Australian cotton industry's commitment to improving farming practices, profitability and environmental sustainability. Coupled with the adoption of best management practices and integrated pest management programs, the cotton industry is a leader in sustainable farming systems and meeting the challenges of climate change.

Key points

Irrigated and rain-grown (dryland) cotton are specialised crops that demand a higher level of management than other field crops, given the higher level of risk in growing the crop due to insect pressure, disease and climatic conditions during the growing season, which can affect yield and quality. The careful management required of the relatively high input costs, including finance, chemicals, machinery and expertise, means that any decision to grow cotton should be well researched. Crop consultants and agronomists are contracted by all growers to support tactical crop management and strategic planning decisions.

Key management points include:

• considerating disease resistance and maturity when selecting a variety to plant
• monitoring soil temperature, which should be at a minimum of 17^oC at 7 am for three consecutive days before planting
• planting within the prescribed planting window for Bollgard II varieties and within recommended planting window for conventional varieties
• ensuring the appropriate budget for the minimum irrigation water requirement, which is 4-7 mL/ha depending on the production region
• employing a professional consultant to monitor insect numbers and provide agronomic advice
• adhering to the Bollgard II Resistance Management Plan for Bollgard crops and the Insecticide Resistance Management Strategy for the use of all insecticides
• developing a stringent herbicide regime to control problem weeds
• adopting the cotton industry's best management practices (myBMP)
• implementing the Come Clean - Go Clean good farm hygiene practices to minimise the spread of weeds and diseases.

Cotton fibre is processed into yarn and fabric, the seeds can be crushed for oil or animal feed, and the leaves can be used as mulch. Cottonseed oil is one of the world's most popular vegetable oils.

Cotton Australia has developed a kit for growers considering cotton production.

Production statistics

In the 2008-09 season, an estimated 161,000 ha of cotton (irrigated and rain-grown) were planted in Australia, which was nearly 50% less than an average season of 303,000 ha. This reduction was due to the drought conditions over the past three years. However, it was still almost double the area planted in the 2007-08 season.

Estimated Australian production is 1.3 million bales with a value of approximately $750 million at the farmgate. The 2008-09 Queensland cotton crop of 76,000 ha is estimated to have GVP value of $340 million, with an additional $37 million generated from value-adding (Prospects 2008).

The area of rain-grown cotton can vary considerably from year to year, depending on commodity price and rainfall patterns.

Australia has the highest average yield per hectare in the world at 8.37 bales/ha, and is a reliable supplier of high-quality cotton.

The following charts published by The Australian cottongrower in the Cotton yearbook 2009 provide a summary of Australian cotton production over time.