Did you know?
Stress prior to defoliation (70% open or 4 Nodes above Cracked Boll (NACB)) can cause a reduction in yield and fibre quality.
Final Report Climate Change in Cotton Catchment Communities - A Scoping Study
There is a need to scope the possible impacts of climate changes on climate variability in cotton catchment communities to assess opportunities and gaps and to raise the profile of opportunities of SCF for NRM. This project will attempt for the first time:
- Synthesise current technical and scientific information available on climate change on climate variability and attempt to make it specific to Cotton Catchment Communities. At the moment this information is disjointed and not in a form whereby industry and other stakeholders can understand it in the local context. The first outcome to produce a technical literature review document that would be made available to Cotton Catchment Communities CRC (CCC CRC) partners of research and information that is targeted and specific for Cotton Catchment Communities. We would approach institutions and experts and gather summaries of climate change scenarios (climate data/graphs/maps) etc, tailored for use in exploring impacts of climate change and variability. For example accessing climate data files that can be used with the cotton ‘HydroLOGIC’ decision support system to assess consequences on farm productivity and water use efficiency with changes in catchment water allocation plans and climate variability.
- From the information collected develop cotton specific case studies that demonstrate the impacts of climate change on climate variability and opportunities for SCF to assist with NRM.
- Using case studies developed engage cotton industry stakeholders through a series of dedicated workshops (in different cotton growing regions) to identify issues relating to climate change and climate variability and capture opportunities using a holistic approach to NRM. The CCC CRC would engage the use of scientific experts and utilise its existing cotton extension network and established partnerships with catchment management authorities (CMA’s) to assist in delivering this outcome.
- Communicate the results of project activities to cotton industry, catchments and communities through: development of a technical report; media releases; CRC cotton tales (weekly fax/mail system of the CRC delivered to every cotton grower); details on CRC website; production of summary brochure for general distribution to local councils; and formal letters to industry and community leaders outlining findings.
- Develop an industry strategy for future investment in research into impacts of climate change on climate variability, SCF, and the development of strategies for NRM.
