Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD) has announced the winner of the inaugural Brian Hearn Shield for Water Use Efficiency as Stuart, Maxine and Tyson Armitage from Cecil Plains, QLD.
The award honours the impact of leading cotton researcher, Brian Hearn, who was instrumental in the development of a number of cotton crop simulation models, which have been widely adopted by the Australian cotton industry.
Born in England, Brian’s career began as an agronomist in Malawi and he later worked in Yemen and Uganda, researching cotton crop physiology. He came to Australia in 1970 as a cotton research agronomist with the CSIRO in the Ord Irrigation Area, and later Narrabri, where his modelling research led to the development of a number of software programs, including OZCOT and hydroLOGIC. 
CSD’s Marketing and Extension Lead, James Quinn said the new award was a small way of honouring on of Australia’s pioneer cotton researchers.
“Brian’s models of the cotton plant and the life cycles of major pests have helped countless growers predict pest pressures, yield and harvest date for better pest management and irrigation scheduling.”
“The Brian Hearn Shield for Water Use Efficiency complements the series of accolades that CSD awards to high achieving growers in our variety trial and Ambassador Network programs. CSD’s five-year strategic plan has a focus on increasing water use efficiency in line with overall industry targets and we’re proud to pay tribute to the work of Brian Hearn through this award.”
Award winners, Stuart and Maxine Armitage and son Tyson, credited their results to careful management of all inputs, not just irrigation. A balanced nutrient and water budget enabled the family to achieve a water use efficiency (WUE) figure of 4.95 kilograms of lint per millimetre. 
“Such a figure is very well deserving of the inaugural Brian Hearn Shield, and we congratulate the Armitage family for this award,” said James Quinn.
The full list of winners for the 2019-20 CSD variety trial shield program are:
John Grellman Shield for the highest yielding irrigated crop in a CSD variety trial:
Will Carrigan, Australian Food & Fibre, Moree NSW             
Alan Brimblecombe Shield for the highest yielding dryland cotton crop in a CSD variety trial: 
Ron Greentree and Tony Harrison, Gulf Farming, Georgetown QLD
Dr Norm Thompson Shield for the highest quality crop in a CSD variety trial: 
Paul and Georgie Krieg, ‘Glen Royal’ Brookstead QLD        
Brian Hearn Shield for the highest water use efficiency in a CSD variety trial:Stuart and Tyson Armitage, ‘Wamara’ Cecil Plans QLD