cotton - Greenmount Press

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To date, there is only one documented case of a glyphosate resistant species (Barnyard grass) in an Australian dryland cotton farming system. But cotton growing regions are closely aligned with the northern grains region, and across this area there are 16 weed species that have developed resistance to at least one herbicide mode of action. Most recently, liverseed grass with resistance to glyphosate has been confirmed in this region. Although there is still a diversity of herbicides used in conjunction with cultivation and other farming practices, there is an increasing reliance on glyphosate for the majority of weed control in cotton production systems. This reliance not only occurs in GM cotton varieties, but also in conventional cotton and other crops used for fallow weed control, hence increasing the risk of glyphosate resistance evolution in these systems. Facing the resistance problem with the world’s best A major and concerted effort is required to tackle the lack of new herbicide options available for grain and fibre farming across the world’s most productive agricultural regions. The Global Herbicide Resistance Challenge conference will bring together leading authorities on herbicide resistance from across the globe to consider the state-of-the-science. It will address issues ranging from molecular evolution through to crop science, agro-ecology, resistance management and socio-economics in a variety of agricultural systems. Dr Jason Norsworthy, Professor and Elms Farming Chair The Global Herbicide Resistance Challenge will be held in Perth Western of Weed Science at the University of Arkansas, winner of Australia, February 18–22, 2013. For further information please visit the numerous O B S 9 awards 7 8 2 Cfor G . his p dresearch f P aachievements, g e 1 1 0 and / 1 Council 2 / 1 2 , 3 : conference 4 8 P M website, www.herbicideresistancechallenge.com.au, or contact Conference Chair, Lisa Mayer, T: 08 6488 7870, E: lisa.mayer@uwa.edu.au. of Australasian Weed Societies (CAWS) Orator at the Global Herbicide Resistance Challenge conference, knows only too well Put your paddock in your pocket. the US herbicide resistance situation, and can fully comprehend the threat currently faced by Australia. Jason is recognised as a national and international authority, and key influencer in the area of understanding and managing herbicide resistance. Jason’s presentation on Thursday, February 21 at the Global Herbicide Resistance Challenge conference will focus on best management practices to prevent herbicide resistance evolution in cotton and soybean crops, and will demonstrate that diversity is the key to ensuring the long-term success of weed management programs. Representatives from the Australian cotton industry are encouraged to take this opportunity to attend the conference to learn how leading researchers and nations are tackling herbicide resistance in the great crops of the world, and help tackle the Global Herbicide Resistance Challenge. Standard Conference registration can be purchased for $1100 (inc. GST). This includes four-day conference registration, along with the opening and closing event hospitality. A special price for oneday delegates is $275 (incl GST) or $165 (incl GST) for students. This all inclusive price includes full one-day conference registration, daily catering package and the conference closing function. Further information: Global Herbicide Resistance Challenge, www.herbicideresistanceconference. com.au Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative, www.ahri.uwa.edu.au Cotton Research and Development Corporation, www.crdc.com.au Acknowledgements: Stephen Powles (AHRI), Jeff Werth (QDAFF), David Thornby (QDAFF), James Hill (NSW DPI), Graeme Charles (NSW DPI). Keep an eye on your farm water from anywhere, anytime with GlobalLink by Observant. GlobalLink is the first truly integrated remote management technology that enables you to check on and automate your entire water management system from wherever you are. With GlobalLink technology built into some of the best surface irrigation equipment on the market, you can choose from a premium range of enabled equipment including pumps, stops, risers and much more. Control and manage the entire system remotely through any internetenabled device, including a computer or smartphone. Schedule irrigation, control pumps, manage laterals or pivots and monitor soil moisture, weather conditions – the list is endless. If you want all this power, convenience and choice in the palm of your hand, then contact your local GlobalLink partner or Observant direct. 1300 224 688 info@observant.com.au GlobalLink partners: Observant® is a registered trademark of Observant Pty Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. ABN 21 104 666 882 observant.com.au 48 — The Australian Cottongrower December 2012–January 2013
The essentials for successful cotton in the Burdekin ■ By Stephen Yeates and Paul Grundy IN this article we tell the story of some of Burdekin growers pioneering cotton and how their partnership with local R&D is progressing robust production practices for this unique cotton growing environment. Burdekin farmers evaluating cotton over the past five summers agree that growing in the tropical wet season, combined with the need for cotton to be compatible with sugar in rotation, have required both locally developed management practices and customising production costs that reflect the yield potential of the climate. Lyndsay Hall and sons Peter and Russell have planted cotton in the Burdekin since 2004. Lindsay has long recognised the need for crops to break a sugar monoculture. “We saw two opportunities for cotton in our business,” he says. “Firstly, along with grain crops it could provide an alternative to sugar when prices are low, and secondly as a break crop between sugar crops – that is grow cotton rather than have valuable irrigation land fallow during summer. Water is not a limitation in the Burdekin.” The reasoning was similar for long-term sugar growers Wayne and Angelo Dal Santo who grew their first cotton crop in 2008. In most years, 20 per cent of their land lies fallow between cutting the last rattoon around November and planting cane in about April, therefore a cash crop that could provide weed control and had a tap-root was desirable. The approval for growing genetically modified Bollgard II Roundup Flex cotton varieties in Northern Australia granted late in 2006 provided the catalyst to test cotton during the following wet season’s fallow. “We were already spraying glyphosate to control weeds during the fallow, so by growing cotton we could also generate income FIGuRE 1: Closing the gap between seasonal yield potential (climate study), top commercial farm and Burdekin valley average (all farms) for 2008–12 when sown at the same dates and provide a break between sugar crops,” said Wayne. In hindsight, planting a commercial area of cotton in 2008 when the Halls, Dal Santos and 10 others first did was a brave decision as there was no local knowledge on how to grow the crop – just a ‘best bet’ based on a desktop assessment of the best sowing date and extrapolation of husbandry practices from other areas. Variety, nutrition, growth regulator management, row spacing and planting population were all speculative. An overwhelming demonstration of this risk was the difference in performance between the varieties available at the time, Sicot 80BRF and Sicala 60BRF, which when averaged over 12 fields in 2008 had a yield average of 4.0 and 8.6 bales per hectare respectively. For the growers who tossed a coin to choose between these two varieties with no local data, the contrast between outcomes could not have been more stark. Not surprisingly with examples such as this, yields were variable in 2008 with some promising yields of around 10 bales per hectare and excellent fibre quality being produced in some fields. History has repeatedly shown for new crops that farming practices cannot be simply transferred from traditional agricultural areas to northern Australia. They are most likely to be unsuitable, and destined for failure. Cotton research commenced in 2008 to meet the need for local production knowledge, and in the hope of avoiding past errors in northern Australia. The research that was conducted over a subsequent five year period had two objectives: ■ To examine ways to mitigate the risk of wetter than average years so that growers who used cotton as an annual rotation cropping option for cane could do so without suffering losses in wet years and achieve good returns in average or drier than average years; and, ■ The development of agronomic practices that better suit local conditions. The approach was to work closely with the farmers growing Commercial yields were down as growers were learning to deal with wet season cropping in 2008 and 2009. The gap between potential and commercial yields reduced during 2010–12, but cloudy weather during autumn, particularly during 2011 and 2012 reduced yield potential compared with earlier years. Pioneering Burdekin cotton farmer Lindsay Hall speaking at a field walk on his farm. December 2012–January 2013 The Australian Cottongrower — 49
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cotton - Greenmount Press

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