Dryland cotton options with CSD
Cotton is a popular dryland summer crop. Current varieties, improvements in technology and trait advancements have simplified the process for growing dryland cotton, reducing production risks and allowing for greater flexibility in planting windows, pupae busting and refuge requirements.
Dryland cotton offers
- one of the best gross margins for summer cropping
- benefit in your rotation to a broadleaf crop to provide disease and weed break
- advancements in biotechnology to make weed and pest control simpler and more flexible.
Rewarding gross margins
Weed and pest control
Flexibility
Less risk
Marketing opportunities
Why other growers grow dryland cotton
Learn how CSD varieties are making an impact on-farm. Hear from growers Luke von Pein from Macalister, Qld, and Rowan Bennett, Jimbour Qld speak on their experiences.
Dan Skerman of Skerman Farming talks through the advantage of growing CSD’s new varieties in a dryland operation. CSD’s Agronomist Larissa Holland, based at Dalby, explains the evolution of the technology and why it’s a good fit for growers.
Case studies
Case study: Kupunn, Darling Downs
Siokra 253B3XF & Sicot 761B3XF Try Before You Buy
Case study: Jimbour, Darling Downs
Sicala 320B3XF, Sicot 761B3XF, Siokra 253B3XF, Sicot 619B3XF & Sicot 748B3F Try Before You Buy
Case study: Macalister, Darling Downs
Sicot 743B3XF & Sicot 748B3F Try Before You Buy
Case study: Chinchilla, Darling Downs
Sicot 619B3XF, Siokra 253B3XF, Sicala 320B3XF & Sicot 743B3XF Try Before You Buy
Case study: Blackville, Upper Namoi
Sicala 320B3XF & Siokra 253B3XF Try Before You Buy
Variety choices
Resources
Cotton Production Manual 2026/27
Go to Chapter 4
8 golden rules for dryland cotton
Acres of Opportunity website
Dryland Cotton Guide
Acres of Opportunity website
Cotton gross margin budgets
CottonInfo website
Making raingrown cotton pay
Presentations at the 2026 Australian Cotton Conference
New thoughts on raingrown cotton
Presentations at the 2026 Australian Cotton Conference
Optimum planting times & configurations for each region
CSD’s Mick Bange at the 2026 Australian Cotton Conference
New ways to manage weeds in raingrown cotton
CSD’s Natalie Aquilina and Gus MacLennan (Bayer Crop Science) at the 2026 Australian Cotton Conference