Central Highlands cotton growers begin harvest

Just over 17,000 hectares of irrigated and 3,200 hectares of dryland cotton has been planted in the Central Highlands area this season after the introduction of the new Bollgard III technology.

Growers were given an extended planting period between August 1 and December 31 with Bollgard III allowing growers to plant more cotton.

Neek Morawitz, Windy Hill and Argoon, Comet began harvesting today after planting at the start of the extended window with more Central Highlands growers expected to follow later this week.

Cotton Australia Central Highlands Regional Manager Renee Anderson said the season was looking to have a great finish with climate models predicting a dry harvest for growers. 

She said the new planting window had given growers a lot more winter flexibility.

“We had quite a number of growers take the opportunity of that extended planting windows,” she said.

“The later guys have planted because they took advantage of the higher chickpea prices and it’s given them (the growers) an opportunity after their winter crops to have later than usual cotton crops.

“It gives them an opportunity to do a really good rotation.”

Ms Anderson said dryland farmers had also benefited from the new planting scheme.

“Previously we had quite a narrow six week window which didn't give the opportunity for dry land growers to plant on rain,” she said.

“The valley is looking on track to have decent yields.”