THE cotton industry has descended on the Gold Coast in force with a record 2350 delegates gathering at this week’s 2018 Australian Cotton Conference.

Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay said for a small industry to have so many people attending its biennial conference was “sensational”.

Adam Kay

“One of the strengths of this industry is that people work together and help each other out. Because we don’t compete with each other – we are selling the crop on a global market – everyone is interested in everyone succeeding,” he said.

“People love getting together and being stimulated by world-class speakers and making plans for the future.”

Mr Kay said growers had been buoyed by a high-producing crop in 2017-18.

“The crop last season had exceptional quality and the yields in some of the valleys were record-breaking. We produced one million tonnes of fibre. All of it will sell at a premium in the world market,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the coming season looks like being half that at the moment. I know the outlook is not looking fantastic, but there are still a couple of months for some rains to come. You never know.”

The 1436 cotton farms in NSW and Queensland produce an average irrigated yield of 10.12 bales/hectare – more than three times the world average – and an average dryland yield of 1.34b/ha.

New appointments to Cotton Australia Board

A new chairman and three new directors were appointed to Cotton Australia’s Board at the organisation’s annual general meeting, held this morning at the Gold Coast conference.

Hamish McIntyre

St George grower and previous deputy chairman, Hamish McIntyre, replaces the retiring chairman and Goondiwindi grower, Simon Corish.

Existing Board member, Nigel Burnett, has been appointed the new deputy chairman.

Bernard (Bernie) Bierhoff from the Walgett Cotton Growers’ Association, Susan McCutcheon from the Macquarie Cotton Growers’ Association, and Jeremy Callachor from Namoi Cotton have been appointed as directors.

Mr Bierhoff and Ms McCutcheon assume Board positions vacated by Mr Corish, Barb Grey and Chris Hogendyk. Mr Callachor was an existing director and successfully re-nominated for his Board position.

2018 Cotton Conference Gallery:

CottonInfo regional development officer, Annabel Twine, Toowoomba, and Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries extension officer, Tonia Grundy, Toowoomba.

Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association project manager, Lou Gall, Moree, NSW, and Amps agronomist, Tony Lockrey, Moree.

Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD) chair, James Kahl, Wee Waa, NSW, and CSD extension development agronomist, Craig McDonald, Narromine, NSW.

Cotton growers, Dick Estens, Moree, NSW, and Andrew and Jess French, Theodore, Qld.

myBMP auditor, Geoff McIntyre, Dalby, Qld, and visiting WA agronomist, Robert Alderman, Geraldton, who is looking to relocate to the eastern farming region.

Charles Sturt University student, Danyon Williams, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Olam Queensland Cotton regional manager for Central Queensland, Rick Jones, Emerald, and University of New England student, Mitch Buster, Armidale.

Precision Cropping Technologies representatives, Genevieve Wells, Crystal Brook, SA, Michael Wells, Crystal Brook, SA, and Henry Hamilton, Moree, NSW.

Dimby Ag farm manager, Tim Chaffey, Quirindi, NSW, and Yara Australia agronomist and crop solutions manager, David McRae, Tamworth, NSW.

Agronomist consultant, Bill Cowell, Toowoomba, Qld, Cotton Grower Services southern NSW manager, Michael Josh, Hay, NSW, and Syngenta manager, Darren Browne, Brisbane, Qld.

Charles Sturt University students, Joe Hamblin and Luisa Goodman, Wagga Wagga, NSW, HMAg agronomist, Alex Trinder, Moree, NSW, and La Trobe University student, Damien Hamel, Melbourne, Vic.

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