EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................6
1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................12
1.1 Background ..................................................................12
1.2 Program 1. Growth into Northern Australia: Philosophy and General Structure .12
1.3 General Aims of the Scoping Study ...........................................13
1.4 Definition of the Study Region ..............................................13
2. METHODOLOGY.....................................................................14
3. LESSONS FROM PAST ATTEMPTS AT LARGE SCALE
CROPPING DEVELOPMENT IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA ........................................15
4. THE KIMBERLEY REGION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA ......................................17
4.1 Introduction ................................................................17
4.2 Cotton Research and Development in the Kimberley ............................17
4.2.1 The Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) since 1993............................17
4.2.2 Cotton Research in the Broome Area ........................................23
4.2.3 Other Potential Growing Areas .............................................25
4.3 Resource Review..............................................................25
4.3.1 Climatic Potential ........................................................25
4.3.2 Soils and Land Resource Assessment.........................................27
4.3.3 Water Resources ...........................................................28
4.4 Infrastructure Issues .......................................................28
4.4.1 The Ord River Irrigation Area .............................................28
4.4.2 Broome / West Kimberley ...................................................28
4.5 Environmental Issues ........................................................29
4.6 Conclusions and Recommendations .............................................29
5. THE NORTHERN TERRITORY..........................................................30
5.1 Introduction ................................................................30
5.2 Cotton Research and Development in the NT ...................................30
5.2.1 Prior to 1946 .............................................................30
5.2.2 1946 to 1992 ..............................................................30
5.2.3 1992 to 1994 ..............................................................31
5.2.4 1995 to 1999 ..............................................................32
5.2.5 Other relevant Non-Cotton Research ........................................32
5.3 Resource Review..............................................................34
5.3.1 Climatic Potential ........................................................34
5.3.2 Soils and Land Resource Assessment.........................................36
5.3.3 Water Resources 37
5.4 Production System Infrastructure Issues......................................38
5.4.1 Research Infrastructure and Staff..........................................38
5.4.2 Other Relevant Government Departments .....................................38
5.4.3 Transport .................................................................38
5.4.4 Other......................................................................38
5.5 Environmental Issues ........................................................38
5.6 Political Issues.............................................................38
5.7 Conclusions and Recommendations .............................................38
5.7.1 Regional Ranking ..........................................................40
5.7.2 NT Issues for the Australian Cotton CRC....................................40
6. NORTH QUEENSLAND 6.1 Introduction: Past Cotton Research and Production ...........................42
6.2 The Flinders River – Richmond ...............................................42
6.2.1 Background ................................................................42
6.2.2 Resource Review............................................................44
6.2.3 Infrastructure Issues .....................................................47
6.2.4 Major Environmental Concerns ..............................................47
6.3 Other North Queensland Regions ..............................................47
6.3.1 Climatic Potential ........................................................48
6.3.2 Water, Soil and Land Resources ............................................49
6.3.3 Production System Infrastructure Issues ...................................53
6.4 Environmental Issues ........................................................53
6.4.1 Cape York Peninsula .......................................................53
6.4.2 Gulf of Carpentaria .......................................................54
6.4.3 Burdekin Catchment ........................................................54
6.4.4 Atherton Tableland/Mareeba/Lakeland Downs .................................54
6.5 Conclusions .................................................................54
6.5.1 Recommendations Richmond...................................................55
6.5.2 Recommendations Other North Queensland Areas ..............................55
6.5.3 North Queensland Issues for the Australian Cotton CRC .....................55
7. GLOBAL ISSUES FOR COTTON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA...........................................................57
7.1 Physical Resources ..........................................................57
7.2 Production Systems Research and Development .................................57
7.2.1 Crop Adaptation 57
7.2.1.1 Length of Growing Season ................................................57
7.2.1.2 Crop Adaptation to Sub-optimal Mid Season Temperatures ..................57
7.2.1.3 Lack of Long-term Climatic Records ......................................57
7.2.2 Sustainable Production Systems with Minimal Chemical Usage.................57
7.2.2.1 The Impact of the Geographic Spread Summer and
Winter Cropping On Insect Migration .....................................58
7.3 Regional Development and Infrastructure Issues ..............................58
7.4 Communication ...............................................................59
7.5 Environmentally and Politically Sensitive Areas .............................59
7.6 Staffing ..59
7.7 Research and Development Funding Options ....................................59
8. REFERENCES .....................................................................60
9. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................65
10. ABBREVIATIONS..................................................................65
