Welcome to the Australian cotton industry - and welcome to your new responsibilities – wise advice from a Queensland cotton farmer.

The cotton industry is firmly focussed on both economic and ecological sustainability. That vision embraces a high degree of responsibility- responsibility to neighbours, to the local community, to the broader cotton industry, and to the environment.

As part of its vision, the cotton industry –including dryland farmers – is committed to developing and adopting Best ManagementPractice. BMP embraces the whole of farm management and includes the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, sound resource protection management, and above all, avoiding any detrimental impact on the environment or the community.

Over the last 30 years, research and farmer experience have combined to generate a formidable reservoir of knowledge. New farmers, and particularly raingrown farmers, are now able to tap in to that reservoir. This reservoir contains knowledge on pest management, safe spraying techniques, regional variety selection, planting configurations and optimum planting windows, crop rotation and soil management, moisture conservation, mechanisation and market risk management.

Luckily the industry is well served by many very professional cotton field consultants. They can help guide and advise you – but remember, the final decisions, and responsibilities, are yours