Strong dryland cotton interest in Central Queensland

Following enthusiasm from local farmers, Cotton Seed Distributors is hosting a series of dryland cotton information meetings throughout Central Queensland.

CSD extension agronomist David Kelly said good winter rains, currently high cotton prices, and relatively low return for grain crops had made the fibre crop look particularly attractive.

“At reasonable yield levels, at 3½ or 4 bales per hectare, the return for cotton will be better than any other summer crop and due to the technologies available now, there is much less risk than people will remember.”

During the 1980s and 1990s cotton was a common sight across the Central Queensland landscape but fell out of favour due to some tough seasons and insecticide resistance causing costs to blow out and losses in yield.

David Kelly said with the improvements in genetics and understanding of dryland cotton agronomy, the likelihood of a repeat of these problems was getting less and less likely.

“By using the Bollgard II and Roundup Ready Flex technology, you know how much you are going to spend on weed and insect control for the year before you even plant,” he said.

“Growers using these technologies have told us it makes cotton as simple as, or even simpler to grow than sorghum,” he said.

“This year Monsanto have introduced an End Point Royalty scheme for paying for these technologies – you pay by how much you yield and you don’t have to part with it until you’ve had your cotton ginned,” he said.

“The varieties we are growing now are also head and shoulders above those people would have been growing during the 1990’s – particularly in regards to yield and staple length – two very important things for dryland growers.”

“What’s also improved in that time is the understanding of what you need to do to prepare a paddock for a cotton crop – making sure you have a full profile, a good cover of stubble and the right soil type in particular,” he said.

“At these meetings we’ll run through some of the ‘must-dos’ for dryland cotton so people get a ‘warts and all’ run-down of the crop and they can make a decision whether it will work for them or not.”

David Kelly said anyone interested in learning more about dryland cotton was more than welcome to attend the meetings.

There are four meetings

Mackenzie River – Monday 23 August, 10:00am
‘Kaiuroo’, Karramarra Road, Mackenzie River

Clermont – Monday 23 August, 4:00pm
Clermont Club. 48 Sirius St, Clermont

Gindie – Tuesday 24 August, 8:30am
Gindie Tennis Club

Moura – Tuesday 24 August, 3:00pm
Moura R.S.L, Young St, Moura

16 August 2010

Further Information David Kelly 0428 950021
www.csd.net.au