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9th April 2019
Crop/Bug Check – Moree Crop Stage
Defoliation going very well, mostly 2 passes, 3 on some irrigated crops.
90% of irrigated fields have had their 1st defoliation,
Of the few fields that have been picked, yields look to be between 11 and 12b/ha. Have heard of one fully irrigated field 14.5b/ha.
Dryland: 80 percent defoliated, 20 percent chasing more yield since the rain.
Dryland yield variable 0.3-0.8 b/ha, some up to 2.25b/ha.
Insects/Beneficial’s
Displaced populations are the challenge!
Some SLW adults in later cotton, but not many nymphs.
Good parasitism
What the consultants are saying: “90% of fields have had their 1st defoliation, only 4-5 fields left to defoliate (in next 7-10 days). Latest Irrigated fields will be picked around 22nd April” “Defoliation going well, warm, not a lot of rain. Dryland have only had 2 applications, then stripped. Early turnouts up to 38%” “Later crop is better than early crop, but only because we didn’t stretch the first water as far (didn’t go past 50 days)” “Yields are a measure of how much water you have. With a WUE of 1.4 bales/ML, 10ML/ha equates to about 14b/ha crop and 7ML/ha to about 10b/ha” “Expecting yields of between 11 and 14, av 13+b/ha” “70% of dryland fields start defoliations this week, expecting yields of between 1.5 and 2.25 b/ha”
Crop/Bug Check – Mungindi Crop Stage
60% of irrigated defoliated with remainder starting this week.
10% of dryland crop defoliated. Most crops have kept a top crop that we are now waiting to mature, yield will be low in most fields so need these additional bolls.
Excellent defoliation conditions have resulted in rapid and effective leaf drop.
Predicted yields Irrigated : 7.5-10 Bales/Ha where crop was short of water, 13.5+ for fully irrigated fields.
Predicted yield Dryland: huge variability in yield potential 0.5-2.5 bales/ha Insects/Beneficial’s
SLWF- Adults remaining steady (up to 20% infestation).
Nymphs- decreased due to extremely high levels of parasitism.
What the consultants are saying: “All of the irrigated fields are now fully defoliated and most have been picked. Yields looking reasonably positive considering the season” “First of the dryland fields starting to be defoliated this week with the bulk the week after. Lack of recent rain to finish off the bolls in the top crop extremely disappointing” Please note, that all agronomic decisions should be based around your crop and the pests found in it. This is a summary of responses from 6 consultants based in the Gwydir & Mungindi districts.
Day Degrees - Moree Accumulated day degrees from planting date of 1 November until 8th April - Moree
From 1st Nov: 2423
2017: 2311
2016: 2401
Long Term Average: 2078
Date 2018 2017 2016 Average
Hot Days 65 54 61 24.2
Cold Shock 4 3 9 7.4
Day Degrees - Mungindi Accumulated day degrees from planting date of 1 November until 8th April - Mungindi
From 1st Nov: 2629
2017: 2527
2016: 2619
Long Term Average: 2262
Date 2018 2017 2016 Average
Hot Days 87 75 85 46.8
Cold Shock 1 2 6 5.2
Picking Information The current edition of the Spotlight magazine has timely articles on: Optimising Spindle Harvester Operation – the article reviews studies showing that compressor plate adjustment, spindle tip clearance and use of scrapping plates can substantially affect fibre quality and turn out. Keeping an eye on module wraps – the article reviews the problem of plastic contamination in cotton and makes a series of recommendations to minimise contamination risk. A link to the magazine can be found here.
Global cotton demand A colleague recently shared with me the following presentation. There are some interesting slides on the future global demand for cotton. Also, some slides on microplastic pollution, comparing cotton with polyester and in regard to sustainability, where viscose is the villain, with 70 million trees cut down annually to make clothes from this chemical. In terms of Aquatic Biodegradation, after 250 days, some 76 percent of cotton is gone while only 4 percent of polyester has been degraded. https://www.usda.gov/oce/forum/2019/speeches/Jon_Devine.pdf
Sustainable natural resources: how do you reap the benefits? Natural areas on and surrounding cotton farms provide benefits to the farming enterprise, known as ecosystem services. For example, natural vegetation can be an important year round habitat for beneficial insects, increasing natural pest suppression early in the growing season in adjacent fields. Diversity in vegetation can act as a refuge for cotton pests that haven’t been exposed to Bt toxins/insecticides used in cotton, providing an additional source of susceptible individuals, and slowing the development of resistance. And, healthy riparian vegetation can also store and sequester large amount of carbon. Riparian soils can also sequester carbon and improve nutrient cycling. Interested in more information, click here.
Follow the monthly “top tips” for natural resource management via the monthly Blog from Stacey Vogel,NRM Tech Lead CottonInfo. Her March Top Tips can be found here and previous month Blogs can be viewed here.
CottonInfo’s achievements, our first six years
CottonInfo is the Australian cotton industries extension program. We deliver the latest research and development, news, events and information to help cotton growers and consultants boost productivity, profitability and adopt best practice.
CottonInfo was formed in 2012 as the Australia’s cotton industry’s extension program by three joint partners: CRDC, CSD and Cotton Australia
Our purpose is threefold: to improve practices, improve R&D communication, and improve industry responsiveness.
We have a three part team: regional extension officers, technical leads and myBMP experts.
At the end of our first six years (June 2018): o 98% of consultants and 92% of cotton growers are aware of CottonInfo o We are considered a trusted information source by 89% of consultants and 94% of
growers. o We have connected 14,000 cotton growers/consultants with over 990 extension
activities. o 95% of consultants and 88% of cotton growers believe we have assist with practice
change in key areas. o 78% of cotton growers are participating in the industry’s myBMP program.
Take a look here to discover the impact of CottonInfo during its first six years. The CottonInfo Team:
Dates for the Diary
Canopy Temperature Sensor Q&A o Date: Friday 12th April o Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm o Place: GVIA Office, 100 Balo Street, Moree o Expert panel:
Dr James Mahan, USDA, Lubbock Texas Dr Hiz Jamali, CSIRO. Narrabri Dr Mike Bange, CSIRO, Narrabri
Mr Tom Dowling, Goanna Ag
o RSVP: Janelle Montgomery M. 0428640990 or Gwydir CGA [email protected]
Canopy temperature is a direct response to plants access to (or lack of) soil water and therefore, this technology has been developed as an irrigation scheduling tool that is plant based to complement soil and weather based approaches. Dr James Mahan, Plant Physiologist, USDA, Lubbock, Texas is currently in Australia. James developed the canopy temperature technology and is able to include the Gwydir CGA into his tight schedule. This is a great opportunity to hear from James and CSIRO’s Hiz Jamali and Mike Bange who have further developed the technology for Australian cotton growing regions. The canopy temperature technology will be available to growers in the 2019-20 cotton season. Many years of work funded by CSIRO and CRDC has finally come to fruition with the commercialisation of his technology, through Goanna Ag.
An Evening with Cotton o Date: Wednesday 24th April o The Gwydir CGA have run a very successful “Evening with Cotton” for many
years. It’s a great opportunity to show case cotton growing in the Gwydir Valley. For the Moree community to step outside and gain a greater understanding of our local cotton industry.
o Please encourage anyone new to town to come along on the tour, Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, Teachers, Police. Everyone welcome.
Janelle Montgomery Regional Extension Officer | Gwydir, Mungindi | CottonInfo M 0428 640 990 | E [email protected] | W www.cottoninfo.com.au
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