Wayne Keller. Photo: Cotton Australia

PLANTING is under way for Australia’s 2026-27 cotton crop, with several growing regions starting early ahead of what is forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology to be a drier season.

Planting began in Queensland’s Central Highlands in early August, while growers in St George and the Brisbane Valley started in recent weeks, as did a few early starters in northern and southern New South Wales who took advantage of favourable conditions.

Most regions will begin planting next week.

This year’s cotton crop is expected to be significantly smaller than last season as reduced water allocations and ongoing dry conditions limit planting opportunities across many cotton-growing regions.

Cotton Australia chief executive officer Adam Kay said the current crop forecast is around 2.7 million bales, down from 4.5 million bales last year, with an estimated value of about $2.1 billion.

“This year we are expecting about 265,000 green hectares to be planted, which is lower than the last few years,” Mr Kay said.

“While cotton prices remain relatively strong, access to water is the biggest driver of planting decisions this season.

“Most valleys are down on allocations this year following a dry winter and limited inflows into storages.

“As a result, growers are generally taking a more cautious approach to planting and many are reducing their cotton area.”

The Macintyre Valley is expecting a significantly reduced crop, while growers across the Darling Downs, the Gwydir, Macquarie and southern valleys, and the St George, Dirranbandi, and Mungindi districts also facing water allocations lower than last season.

This will particularly impact the total dryland cropping area, which will be minimal in many regions unless significant rain falls during the planting window.

Despite the challenging outlook, planting conditions have generally been favourable where water is available.

St George grower Lucas Wuersching finished planting on September 20, and already has cotton out of the ground, with warm temperatures supporting the early start.

“We’ve been trying to go earlier and earlier if the weather’s right, and this is a hot, dry year and the temperatures were good,” Mr Wuersching said.

“Our theory for starting earlier is to use our water instead of letting it evaporate away, and it puts us in a good window around harvest when there’s less chance of storms and cold weather which could delay defoliation.

“It’s been working really well for us the last couple of years.”

Mr Wuersching has planted about half the area grown last year, and said there are many in the region who will be down more than that because of lower water availability.

“It’s looking like it’s going to be a dry season, although some people are saying it might break, so you never know.

“This year, we need our crop so we’re not pushing it.

“We’re going in expecting little to no rainfall and taking a more conservative approach than we might have done in the past.”

Many other growers in St George are currently planting, with most hoping to be finished by the start of October.

Brisbane Valley grower Wayne Keller is also in the middle of planting and, despite having full water allocations, is preparing for a dry season.

“I think we’re going to have to water more this season,” Mr Keller said.

“I planted dry and have had to water twice to get the crop out of the ground.”

In northern Australia, picking is almost complete in the Western Australia’s Ord region, where yields are promising and fibre quality is good, providing confidence for growers after another season of managing crops through Kimberley conditions.

Around 75,000 bales is expected to be processed at the Kununurra gin this season, with a further 10,000-15,000 bales of Ord cotton expected to go through the Katherine gin.

The start of planting coincides with World Cotton Day on 7 October, a global celebration recognising cotton’s contribution to livelihoods, innovation, trade and sustainable development.

In Australia, World Cotton Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the growers, communities and innovation behind our leading cotton industry.

Cotton Australia encourages growers and the wider community to get involved in the day by sharing positive stories, celebrating the people behind the fibre, and showing how cotton is for good.

Source: Cotton Australia