Each season, CSD undertakes a Seed Increase Program (SIP) to ensure the provision of high quality varieties for the Australian cotton industry. CSD utilises an internationally recognised seed certification scheme that limits the number of generations that can be produced from the seed provided to CSD by the breeder. This scheme maintains the genetic purity of each variety and ensures that the seed supplied by CSD is true to type for each individual variety.

Seed Increase growers

CSD has a commitment to the Australian cotton industry to supply seed of the highest quality; and this includes working with growers who have a proven track record of quality seed production and can offer fields that meet the following conditions:

• New or fallow fields from the previous season
• Good overall farm hygiene standards (free of weeds and diseases)
• Fully irrigated fields with sufficient water to fully mature the seed crop
• Adequate flood protection
• Where required, growers are able to establish and comply with the Technology User Agreement (TUA) of third parties such as Bayer Crop Science
• Fields are accessible by CSD Seed Increase staff

Participating growers should be aware that ginning of the seed crop must take place with a pre-approved ginning organisation.

How to participate in the Seed Increase Program

CSD will commence development of the next season’s SIP in June-July each year.

Growers are invited to complete the expression of interest form, which is active on this page during the application period from June to August each year.

To ensure genetic purity of the seed crop, CSD will conduct a range of crop and machinery inspections and equipment clean downs throughout the season (for example, prior to planting and harvest). Participating growers will also be required to provide management information on the seed crop as requested.

Compensation

Participating growers are compensated to reflect a commercial return, relative to the costs and management required for growing seed crops. CSD pays co-operating growers an area premium on the area of established seed crop and a seed premium for the quality of the fuzzy seed produced from the seed crop.

Further details are provided during the application process.