WITH Bollgard 3 has come an extended planting window for cotton growers, and many Central Highlands growers have taken full advantage of the opportunity.
With some growers planting in the first week of the window (August 1, 2016), and some leaving their planting until the very end (December 31, 2016), the season will be stretched for many more months than the industry is accustomed to.
Cotton Australia’s Central Highlands regional manager Renee Anderson, Kerry Downs, Emerald, said to date 15,000ha of irrigated cotton and 4000ha of early planted dryland cotton is in the ground in the region, with more to come.
“There is approximately 6500 hectares of irrigated and dryland cotton to be planted in the next three weeks based on bags of seed sitting in growers’ sheds ready to go,” Mrs Anderson said.
“This year we have an extended planting window which allows growers to spread the risk from unfavourable, seasonal climatic conditions.
“This year has seen cotton in the Central Highlands planted from the start of the window on August 1, as well as many growers opting to plant later.
“This year saw larger than average planting of winter chickpea crops throughout the valley. Many of those fields have been or are currently being turned around for cotton.”
Ms Anderson said dryland growers are crossing their fingers for good rainfall in the next two weeks so they can plant into sufficient soil moisture profiles before the window closes on December 31.
She said the planting window has allowed some previous growers to get back into the cotton industry.
“The number of growers changes year to year depending on many different variables such as water availability, winter crops that were previously planted etc,” she said.
“On average we have between 36 and 40 irrigated growers each year.
“This season with the opening up of the Bollgard 3 window has seen some dryland growers come back into the industry who haven't planted in many years, as well as a few new growers.”
Last year cotton in the Central Highlands averaged a yield of 9.3 bales per hectare, and Ms Anderson said so far the conditions have been favourable this season, despite insect pressure.
”There has been a higher than average pest insect pressure after a wet winter throughout the channel country in Western Queensland,” she said.
“Mirid and heliothis numbers have been consistently high for the last few months with storm fronts bringing adult mirids and heliothis moths onto the lush green cotton crops post chickpea harvest.”
Due to the extended planting window, cotton in the region is at different stages, ranging from cutout to cotyledons, to everything in between.
Kelly Butterworth
Rockhampton-based journalist covering all things ag.
Rockhampton-based journalist covering all things ag.
