BORDER RIVERS
Stuart McFadyen
In the Border Rivers region, warm days and cold nights have made conditions challenging for growers to achieve a good plant stand this season. The lack of winter rain meant beds were dry prior to watering up, extending the watering time beyond expectations when planting commenced. While warm spring conditions didn’t hinder on-time field preparations and fallow fields were in good shape, the erratic cold shock events in October significantly impacted the emergence of cotton seedlings, leading to slow plant stand establishment. In some fields, establishment was excellent, yet in others, especially those irrigated during cold changes, growth was slow, with some even needing replanting.
The absence of a substantial winter crop resulted in low early season thrip pressure. Some mites have appeared in fields planted early, but they haven’t required spraying to date. Rainfall has been sparse for several months but returned significantly in mid-November. Goondiwindi received 30-50 mm, and in the valley’s western areas, rainfall of 100-180mm was recorded. This necessitated quick action to remove excess water from fields and tail drains for replanting.
The recent rains have facilitated the planting of summer crops like grain and forage sorghum for many growers west of Boomi. Dryland cotton growers have also gained, with long fallow fields planted at the start of November receiving top-ups after planting.
BOURKE
Craig McDonald
Planting commenced in September as soil temperatures started to rise, providing mostly favourable conditions. However, some fields planted back-to-back encountered challenging seed bed conditions. The cooler weather that followed planting and watering up, led to some replanting. Evaporation rates have been notably high due to a combination and warm to hot and windy days. This has necessitated strategic decision-making, focusing on prioritizing fields with the highest yield potential. Any in-crop rain would be beneficial, aiding these fields in progressing further into the season. The total area that will make it through this season is yet to be determined.
BURNETT/GYMPIE & FRASER COAST REGIONS
Chris Barry
In the Burnett and Gympie regions, cotton planting is well underway. Most growers have either begun planting or are in the process of assessing their establishment counts. The region has recently experienced some cooler weather, which has led to some poor strikes, leading to the need for some growers to replant. There has been low disease and pest pressure so far with only a few chewing pests and one heliothis egg lay. Early planters have just finished their first roundup spray whilst the late growers are finalising paddock preparation and applying fertiliser. Irrigation is showing to be a challenge, with hills not subbing up properly and having to use up to two megalitres per hectare pre-plant. Even with full allocation this year, the water is being used up very quickly.
In the Fraser Coast area, things are tracking well with an increase in planted areas compared to last year. Planting is just commencing, with some growers still yet to complete paddock preparations. With no frost risk, most growers are happy to wait until they have everything ready before they plant. Overall, the season has had quite a challenging start, marked by fluctuating temperatures and irrigation difficulties. Despite these initial hurdles there is a general sense of optimism among growers for another successful season.
CENTRAL QUEENSLAND
Kim Stevens
The season is flying, with most of our irrigated cotton planted, and we’re starting to see flowering and early set bolls in some Central Queensland (CQ) crops. First and second watering are underway for most, as growers strive to manage irrigation around the scattered storms. There has been some great rain in certain areas in mid-November, with more predicted for the upcoming weeks, which has boosted spirits after a season with low or no allocation. While some running water would truly secure the season, for now, the rain helping postpone the use of the existing water supply. Reports indicate that retention in many crops has been great so far this season. However, the recent overcast and cooler conditions may have altered that for some crops. The chances of any dryland cotton in CQ remain low following on from an exceptionally dry winter with no subsoil moisture and insufficient rainfall to replenish those profiles and allow planting. Let’s remain hopeful for some soaking rain to change this situation and enable planting.
It’s fantastic to hear that both Queensland Cotton gins achieved record bales in both Emerald and Moura for the 22/23 season, as Moura has completed its operations. Eighty percent of the cotton graded as base grade or higher, which is a remarkable outcome for the region, particularly with over 80% of it being long-season cotton. Following a successful 22/23 year, the Central Highlands recently celebrated their achievements at their awards night in November, acknowledging the outstanding contributions of their growers and the industry in producing cotton.
DARLING DOWNS
Larissa Holland
Planting in the Darling Downs well underway, with some growers beginning as early as October, enticed by favourable soil temperatures and an unusually high daytime temperature. However, many opted to wait until late October and into November, cautious of cooler nights and the risk of a sudden cold snap that could necessitate replanting. The lead-up to planting was marked by dry conditions, with minimal rainfall throughout winter and early spring. The dry spell allowed growers ample time for field preparation but also posed challenges, such as the persistence of cotton trash unbroken by rain and hard, difficult-to-work soil.
By November, most of the cotton, if not all, has been irrigated cotton with watering up seeming to be favoured for getting water to the fields. Conditions for dryland growers were not ideal until mid-November, and water requirements for crop establishment varied widely, depending on stubble cover, previous crops, and soil type. Early November brought some respite with storms delivering rain, particularly to the north and northeast of Dalby and towards Chinchilla. Rainfall was inconsistent; some areas received 30-50mm, while luckier areas reported more. Current forecasts suggest that approximately 30,0000 hectares will be planted with irrigated crops, though dryland estimates remain uncertain and are expected to be significantly lower than in previous years.
Emerging crops are facing pressure from thrips, which is not ideal this early in the season. However, once the crops grow taller, it is hoped the thrips will become less of an issue. Early-season weeds include peach and bell vine and bladder ketmia. Weather predictions indicate warmer temperatures than the past few seasons, but there’s still potential for the forecast to improve and conditions to become more favourable with the arrival of more rain.
FAR NORTH QLD
Jodie Pedrana
Preparation is underway in Far North Queensland (FNQ) for planting of the 2024 crop. What a contrast from one season to the next in the tropics. Last season growers struggled to get their land ready for planting amidst frequent rainfalls. In contrast, this year’s post-harvest period has seen no significant rainfall, complicating ground preparations due to the extended dry period. Conditions have been hot, dry and windy for several months out in the Gulf and little to no rain recorded since July in the Tablelands which have been unusually dry for the tropics. Like other parts of Australia currently, FNQ is on a high fire alert, with multiple fires still burning in the northern regions.
The weather forecast for the second half of November predicts above-average temperatures and extreme heatwaves across areas from Charters Towers to Mount Isa and up to the Atherton Tablelands. There’s also a chance of storms in the Gulf country. The onset of the northern rainy season for 2023-24 is expected to be later than usual across most of northern Australia. This is attributed to the Indian Ocean Dipole being in a dry phase, which was forecast to decay in November. As such, the commencement of the wet season is eagerly anticipated, with planting in FNQ likely to kick off in early December. The timing of the wet season will significantly influence rain-grown planting areas.
Despite these challenges, there is a strong sense of enthusiasm and resilience as we move towards another season in FNQ. The Cotton Grain Cattle (CGC) research program, a collaborative initiative, is set to enhance agricultural production in Northern Australia. This program aims to fill critical research gaps in the emerging broadacre regions and enhance the cattle industry’s value by developing more resilient and diversified farming options. There is growing demand within the cattle industry for cotton seed and grains, driven by the need to improve livestock nutrition and farming sustainability.
The focus of cotton research being undertaken is to develop management tactics for key pests, disease and canopy architecture to better balance crop protection and climate constraints with crop yield in humid regions. This will involve local validation of canopy management practices, characterisation and potential management of disease pathogens, and development of economic control thresholds for key sucking pests.
CSD in collaboration with FNQ growers, will undertake irrigated and dryland variety trials across North Qld this season. The trials will include the new Bollgard® 3 XtendFlex® lines which will be intensively monitored throughout the season to examine yield, fibre, and quality. The crop data will be analysed and benchmarked, and findings communicated back to industry.
GWYDIR VALLEY
Stuart McFadyen
In the Gwydir Valley, a warm September enticed some growers to plant early this season, but the results for establishment have been varied. Cold shock events scattered throughout the first, second and fourth weeks of October posed significant challenges in achieving a good plant stand.
Additionally, fields were taking longer to water up than expected, leading to situations where growers began irrigating under favourable conditions, only to be caught off guard by a cold change as irrigation extended beyond planned durations. The most successful outcomes were observed in cases where growers could temporarily halt irrigation (pull the pipes) and wait for weather improvements before commencing the next set, a strategy not feasible for all. Early in the season, thrips were briefly prevalent during the winter crop harvest, but their impact was minimal. A few showers since then have helped to disperse them. Mite infestations have also reached threshold levels in some fields.
The prospect of dryland cotton planting seemed distant after a particularly dry winter. However, the mood among growers in Tulloona and North Star shifted rapidly following several storms and rainfall exceeding 50 mm in some areas. Shortly after these rains, CSD established three dryland variety trials in the Gwydir Valley, reflecting the renewed optimism among growers.
LOCKYER/ SOMERSET VALLEY’S
Chris Barry
In the Lockyer and Somerset Valleys, there’s a significant focus on cotton growing this season, with over 900 hectares in total this season so far, with around 300ha planted to date. However, the challenge this season will be hot and dry conditions with the current weather status being some cool nights with some warm days. Despite these challenges, the cotton that has emerged during the initial growth period has been quite good. Cotton that was planted in September are now growing well at 7 nodes.
Unfortunately, a large storm moved through the area on the 10th November and brought with it heavy rain and large hail, around Forest Hill and Lake Clarendon area. Cotton that was emerged was badly affected and will need to be replanted, fields also have heavy crusting, therefore seedlings not emerged may struggle to break through. On a positive note, there has been some dryland planting in the area due to the rain.
MACQUARIE VALLEY
Amanda Thomas
The planting window this season was divided, commencing in the last week of September, then experiencing a cool-off before resuming in the first and second weeks of October. Emergence has been notably slower compared to recent years, attributed to cool nights and fluctuating day temperatures. Across all regions of the valley, there was a need for replanting, with early estimates suggesting it affected around 15-20% of the area. The lack of winter rain hindered the breakdown of crop residue, complicating planting in many instances.
This season has also seen considerable pest pressure, with high numbers of wireworm , thrip and flea beetle, partly due to an early harvest. Additionally, hail in some areas added to the early challenges of the season. However, the situation has since improved, and the cotton is now progressing well, currently at the 2-8 leaf stage. Disease pressure remains low, which is favourable given the good growing conditions currently experienced. The Macquarie will be forming a red soil group, aiming to leverage industry expertise to optimise soil management. The inaugural meeting is scheduled for the 29th of November. Furthermore, the valley is hosting numerous XtendFlex demonstration sites this year, as well as some irrigation-focused events.
NAMOI VALLEY
Emma Chorley
After a warm finish to September, planters hit the paddocks with high hopes for irrigated cotton establishment. However, October’s conditions proved unexpectedly challenging, taking many by surprise. Persistent cool overnight temperatures and several cold fronts kept average temperatures below optimum for seedling emergence, necessitating a significant area of replant due to suboptimal establishment. October also saw constant winds that rapidly dried out fields. As a result, some crops received their second in-crop irrigation in early November, whereas in a typical year, this would usually be the time for the first.
In the Upper Namoi, a small area of dryland cotton was planted into heavy stubble fields that held good subsoil moisture. Isolated showers have helped sustain these dryland crops. Meanwhile, in the Lower Namoi, most dryland planting was delayed in anticipation of a significant rainfall event. Winter crops haying off during October and November led to high thrip pressure on emerging cotton stands, causing moderate to significant damage. Some growers opted to spray for thrip to mitigate the damage to young cotton. Despite a cool start to the season, the days are warming up and the cotton is beginning to pick up pace. Crops will begin growing out of the early damage caused by thrips and the earliest crops are expected to begin flowering mid-December in the Namoi.
There is still the potential for some dryland cotton across the region. The planting window for the Upper Namoi closed around November 20th, whereas the Lower Namoi and Bellata growers will plant well into December. This year, CSD’s variety trial program is extensive and well-distributed throughout the Namoi Valley. The program aims to demonstrate the new varieties as well as identify their strengths and weaknesses in each growing region. Several field days and events will be held this season to showcase these trial sites to the industry. Keep an eye out for dates in January to attend!
NORTHERN TERRITORY/WA
Angus Marshall
The onset of storms is bringing welcome relief to the Northern Territory and Western Australia, following a particularly hot and dry end to the dry season. These storms are hoped to continue, to enable some grass cover to grow, which is vital for soil temperature regulation and moisture retention at planting time.
In both states, the area dedicated to cotton is anticipated to surpass last season’s figures, with many existing cotton growers expanding their area. In the Northern Territory, most growers have successfully distributed and integrated their pre-plant fertiliser. Meanwhile. In the Ord region, preparations for planting are actively underway.
There is also notable progress in the cotton industry’s infrastructure. Commissioning of the WANT Cotton Gin in Katherine is scheduled to commence in December. Additionally, the construction of the gin in Kununurra is progressing well, marking a significant milestone for the cotton sector in Northern Australia.
SOUTHERN NSW
Kieran OKeeffe
It has been a slow start to the season with extreme temperature fluctuations and above average cold shocks throughout October. Crops were planted on rising temperature forecasts, but many had to go through a run of five days without day degree accumulation. Replant decisions were made in mid to late October and it is estimated that about 10 to 15 percent of the south was replanted. Despite these challenges, early crops have established well, with many reaching the four to six leaf stages. Currently, most crops are now in the two to four leaf stage and have had their first in crop irrigation.
Thrip pressure has been very high this season with those closest to haying off winter crops being most affected. Many were above threshold and have been sprayed for thrips. However, thrip populations do vary across the region with some areas having little to no thrip damage, possibly due to the presence of alternative green crops nearby. The cool start to the season slowed plant growth away from seedling diseases like Rhizoctonia and Black root rot. However, the more consistent warm weather in November has seen crops starting to move in development and improve. In variety trials, establishment counts have been completed. The larger seeded varieties, such as CSX1049XF and Sicot714B3F, have shown remarkable consistency in stand numbers.