cotton - Greenmount Press

District Reports…
The dryland cotton area is back to 4000–5000 hectares – about
20 per cent of the previous season’s total.
The drop in dryland is a combination of lower price and lack
of opportunity. The scarcity of rain and the drying conditions
throughout October meant planting opportunities were few and
far between. The majority of crops that were planted have a less
than ideal plant population but are generally holding on OK.
Sorghum planted at the same time is similarly patchy.
Thrips were quite prevalent throughout October, causing some
leaf distortion. There are low numbers of mirids and flea beetles
– the probable cause of the low level early square damage. To
date there are minimal signs of aphids, mites or whitefly.
Seedling disease was quite prevalent this year – obviously
worsened by the predominance of back-to-back cotton. Fields
that were flushed early exhibited higher levels of disease –
particularly fusarium.
Crops have generally improved a lot in the second half of
November as their root systems have got down into moisture.
Most are now at 9–12 nodes and squaring nicely. The first main
in-crop irrigation is starting in the last week of November but
others will hold on for one to two weeks.
Because it has taken more water than anticipated to get the
crops to this point and there has been minimal help from rainfall,
many irrigated growers will be relying on significant in-crop rain
and/ or a stream flow for their crops to reach their full potential.
David Kelly
November 30, 2012
Darling Downs
The start of the 2012–13 season has been challenging. Good
general rain at the start of the planting window allowed growers
to get away to a good start. But periods of early cool weather
slowed germinating and emerging crops, resulting in many of the
early planted crops being uneven and patchy.
Destructive hail storms across large areas of the Darling Downs
in mid November impacted significantly on the establishing
crops. Stretching from Brookstead on the southern end of the
Downs through to Warra on the northern end, these storms
brought large hail and heavy rain in a wide band. Several crops
were completely destroyed and had to replanted. At the same
time, large areas were severely set back and plant populations
significantly reduced. These crops are slowly recovering and there
may not be a significant long term cost, but the real impact may
not be realised until harvest.
Summer weeds including cotton regrowth and volunteers
have been a major problem early in establishing crops and
fallowed areas. The dry winter coupled with relatively good
early planting rainfall has seen major weed germination in all
cropping areas. Spray drift has already had a serious impact on
many cotton crops. With large areas of sorghum planted and
many winter cereal crops having been double cropped out of
cotton the previous season, spray drift will continue to be a
major concern for all growers. Coupled with very unfavourable
weather conditions for spraying that are presently being
experienced, the problem may cause more problems as we get
future into the season.
The Darling Downs Cotton Growers Association has entered
into an exciting new era with the election of a new president and
expansion of the executive:
President: Chris Barry
Vice-President: Stuart Armitage
Secretary: Meg Kummerow
Treasurer: Johnathon Mengel
Regional Representatives: Greg Bender, Jamie Grant,
Ian Hayllor, Chris Hornick and Georgie Krieg.
Stuart stepped down from his role as president following his
election as a grower representative to Cotton Australia. Stuart
oversaw the DDCGA through a very difficult and challenging
period including two devastating floods, Murry Darling
Management Plan and coal seam gas. His efforts cannot be
understated and greatly appreciated by growers throughout
the Downs. The regional representatives bring a wealth of
knowledge and experience to the executive.
Duncan Weir
December 7, 2012
Gwydir Valley
Irrigated cotton crops are progressing well after a reasonable
establishment. Many are receiving irrigation at the end of
November and will require another couple before the end of the
year if current conditions continue. At the end of November, the
majority of the crops are in early squaring.
There has been minimal dryland cotton planted with limited
opportunities during the planting window. Those that did get
a planting opportunity are presented with a mixed bag – some
stands will be viable while others may have to be ploughed in
unless there is follow up rainfall in the near future.
The complete absence of effective rainfall in the district as
well as consistent hot dry winds is affecting crops and irrigation
schedules at present. Many are rushing to apply additional
fertiliser and cultivate field prior to this irrigation. Timetables for
these operations have caused some crops to experience some
moisture stress in this pre-squaring, pre-flowering stage.
Those lucky enough to get under a storm have really seen the
value of the additional rainfall, easing the pressure on watering
requirements and operational timetables.
Thrips moved in late from maturing winter cereals, and have
caused some deformation of the true leaves, but this damage
seems to have diminished in recent weeks with healthy growth
returning. Heliothis pressure and aphids which threatened earlier
in the year has been limited to date.
There has been some seedling death due to a number of
factors – a combination of dry conditions, moisture stress and
Fusarium. We are still seeing seedlings dropping out as growth
rate starts to accelerate into squaring in affected fields.
It is expected with the completion of this irrigation and the
continuation of sunny days that the crop will respond positively in
the coming month in the lead up to first flower. If rainfall remains
absent from the valley it will make irrigation management critical
– the crops managed with minimal stress will yield well.
Winter crop harvest has progressed and finished
uninterrupted. Early planted crops performed best while later
planted crop were a little disappointing due a lack of late rain to
finish these crops off.
James Quinn
November 30, 2012
62 — The Australian Cottongrower December 2012–January 2013