THE ARGUSAUSTRALIAN COTTON INDUSTRY AWARDS

AUGUST 2018 SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION | FREE

Pushing boundaries More than ever the Australian cotton industry is pushing geographical boundaries and continuing to make significant leaps in terms of technology and sustainability. New varieties and improved farming strategies have allowed the national cotton crop to expand further north and south. In central QLD last year the extended planting window of Bollgard 3 was put to the test, with some growers planting at the end of July in 2017, and then again in October/November.

The flexibility and profitability that comes with these advances is enabling more growers to include cotton in their operations. The industry gathered early this year to learn how growers push boundaries of their own - the 2017 Growers of the Year, Matt and Daisy Toscan, hosted more than 300 people at their Cavaso Farms property in the NSW southern valleys. Attendees to this Grower of the Year Field Day saw the Toscan’s innovative farming practices in action. Their operation features bankless irrigation, a remotely controlled, automated irrigation system and complex machinery adaptations to name a few.

The Australian Cotton Conference is pushing its own boundaries this year, anticipating 2000 attendees, which would be a record for the event. Cotton Australia has introduced two new scholarship programs to assist students and educators wishing to attend the conference, awarding a total of 26 scholarships. In another first at this year’s event – the Cotton Australia stand will display clothing from brands who have committed to specifying Australian cotton in their supply chain. Brands committed to Australian cotton include Bonds, Country Road, NEUW Denim, CUE Clothing and many more.

anz.comAustralia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) ABN 11 005 357 522. Item No. 94974 07.2018 W596773

CONGRATULATIONS

ANZ is proud to sponsor the 2018 Australian Cotton Awards Dinner. As a leading agribusiness bank, we provide our clients with innovative banking solutions, technology and insights across the value chain, including access to 29 Asia Pacific Markets.

For more information, contact:Mark Bennett, Head of Agribusiness, ANZ Australia mark.bennett@anz.com Ian Hanrahan, Executive Director Food, Beverage and Agriculture, ANZ Institutional ian.hanrahan@anz.com

2018 AUSTRALIAN COTTON AWARDSTO THE FINALISTS AND RECIPIENTS OF THE

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CONFERENCE PROGRAM SUMMARYTUESDAY, AUGUST 7 SESSION LOCATION8:00 am myBMP Express Masterclass Room 48:30 am Cotton Australia Annual General Meeting Room 59:00 am Trade Hall Opens Trade Hall9:30 am Morning Tea Trade Hall10:00 am John Deere Cotton Club Trade Hall10:00 am Session 1 Pushing Boundaries Room 1b12:30 pm FastStart Lunch Trade Hall12:45 -1:15 pm Meet the Finalists ADAMA CLT Young Achiever ADAMA: Sites 30/311:15 - 1:45 pm Meet the Finalists IPF Service to Industry IPF Stand 56/572:00 pm Session 2a Dollars & Dirt - how to remain profitable & sustainable Room 1b

Session 2b War on weeds Room 5

Session 2c Farms of the future Room 7

Better health in ag Room 4

3:30 pm Afternoon Tea Trade Hall4.15 pm Session 3a The climate question Room 1b

Session 3b Refuges & rotations – the world of IPM Room 5

Session 3c Pitch from the Paddock Room 7

5:30 pm First Timers Welcome Foyer E6:00 pm IPF Welcome Reception Trade Hall

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8 SESSION LOCATION7.00 am Next Gen: Farming in the age of Twitter Foyer E8:30am Session 4 Australia – our place in the global market

– customers & competitorsRoom 1b

10:00 am John Deere Cotton Club Trade Hall10:30 am CSD Morning Tea Trade Hall11.15 am Session 5 Jump on the brandwagon - influencing our supply chain Room 1b12:30 pm Lunch Trade Hall12:45 - 1:15 pm Meet the Finalists Cotton Seed Distributor Researchers  CSD: Sites 73/74/93/9412:30 pm myBMP Express Masterclass Room 41:30 pm The Australian Cotton Shippers Association presents Trade Hall2.00 pm Denim by Design Fashion Event

Session 6a New products & new ideas Room 1b

Session 6b Towards zero - the importance of ag safety Room 5

Session 6c Business strategy Room 7

2.00 pm Social Media Masterclass Room 33:30 pm Afternoon Tea Trade Hall3:30 pm Association of Australian Cotton Scientists AGM Room 54.15 pm Session 7a Joining the dots – farm connectivity Room 1b

Session 7b Turbocharge your crop – soils & nutrition Room 5

Session 7c A lasting legacy – farm & business succession & management Room 7

Session 7d Gain with rain - dryland cropping Foyer E

4:15 pm Better health in ag Room 4

SPONSORS CATEGORIESNeed more information? Visit www.australiancottonconference.com.au/program/ Visit the Registration Desk

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 SESSION LOCATION8.30 am Session 8a The lay of the land – understanding perceptions Room 1b

Session 8b Cotton Clinic – diagnosing & treating disease Room 5

Session 8c Power up – the road to renewables Room 7

9.30 am Session 9a Turning the tide Room 1b

Session 9b Fibre Fantastic – agronomy for fibre quality Room 5

Session 9c Mind, body & soul Room 7

9:30 am myBMP Express Masterclass Room 410:00 am John Deere Cotton Club Trade Hall10:30 am OzHarvest Morning Tea Trade Hall10:30 am Women in Cotton AGM Foyer E11:15 am Session 10a Blockchain Room 1b

Session 10b Smarter irrigation for profit Room 5

Session 10c iFarm – the role of data & digital Room 7

12:30 pm Acres of Opportunity Lunch Trade Hall12:30 pm Women in Cotton Luncheon Foyer E12:30 - 1:00pm   Meet the Finalists Monsanto and AgriRisk Growers AgriRisk: Sites 23/24

1:00 - 1:30 pm Meet the Finalists Monsanto and AgriRisk Growers Monsanto: Sites 75/76/91/92

2:00 pm Session 11 ANZ presents From the fields to the future Room 1b4:00 pm Afternoon Tea Trade Hall6:30 pm Australian Cotton Industry Awards Night Hall 3

IPF Service to Industry

AgriRiskHigh Achiever & Monsanto Grower of the Year Finalists

Cotton Seed Distributors Researcher of the Year Finalists

ADAMA Chris Lehmann Trust Young Cotton Achiever Finalists

Michael Bennet page 4&5 Greg & Maryann Bender page 6 Robert Eveleigh page 11 Jake Cutcliffe page 14

Bernie Bierhoff page 7 Dr Joseph Foley, Dr Alison

McCarthy & Dr Malcolm Gillies page 12

William Back page 15

Brett Corish page 8 Dr Kristen Knight page 13 Sam Simons page 16

Peter Lennox page 9

Glen & Narelle Whittaker page 10

FARM FACTSFINALIST

Glen & Narelle Whittaker GS & NM

Whittaker “Wingfield”, Warren, NSW

Peter Lennox for Morcot Farms Pty Ltd “Battery Hill”, Gunnedah, NSW

Brett Corish - Corish Management Pty Ltd “Mundine”

Goondiwindi, QLD

Bernie Bierhoff for Avondale Ag

“Avondale”Rowena, NSW

Greg & Maryann Bender Burradoo

Enterprises Pty Ltd “Burradoo Plains”

Chinchilla, QLDTotal Enterprise Size 3500ha 732ha 10,000ha 70,000ha 1,000ha

Area to Cotton 17/18 560ha 288ha 900ha 2,000ha 250ha irrigated & 80ha dryland

Type of Irrigation Furrow Furrow & Center Pivot

Furrow, Bankless, Drip & Centre Pivot Furrow Lateral Move, Center

Pivot & Furrow

Water Allocations 7,000 megs 715 megs 6,000 megs 10.2 megs/ha

1,500 megs of treated coal seam

gas water & up to 1,000megs of

overland flow

Average Est Yield 17/18 Est 15.4 bales/ha Est 10 bales/ha Est 12.5 bales/ha Est 14.2 bales/ha

Est 11 bales/ha irrigated & 3.75 bales/ha dryland

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COTTON

Michael Bennett has made an extraordinary contribution to water policy in agriculture since he became a partner on the family farm, “Killowen”, near Narromine in 1971. While running the farming and grazing operation he has taken on a long list of community, industry and leadership roles which has seen him help shape the cotton industry as we know it today. In 1981 he took on his first major industry role as the Inaugural Chairman of the Macquarie Valley Irrigators Association, a position he would hold for the next seven years. “We were facing some major issues in the Macquarie Valley and we decided to set up a landholder group and from there it led on to many other things,” he explains. “I guess I’ve always been interested in policy and public management and I was the only one that put my hand up at that stage, but I was glad to do it and I enjoyed it very much.”

His involvement continued as a riparian representative and executive member of Macquarie River Food & Fibre, (MRFF) the irrigator lobby group which replaced the Macquarie Valley Irrigators Association. In these roles Michael represented the interests of local irrigators, largely cotton growers, for many years at state and federal level. “It is a juggling act being a representative and running a farm, particularly in the early days when we didn’t have modern communication like emails and mobile phones,” he remembers. “We did always have the airport in Dubbo with 10 or 12 flights a day to Sydney and we’re very lucky on the farm with staff and family.”

Michael has tirelessly sought equitable implementation of water reforms and a sustainable future for irrigators. His role on MRFF has also included contributions to major policy development and direction, lobbying and the role of spokesperson. “I think city folk have become more insular, they don’t really understand the issues that we face and we’ve seen that recently with some of the issues on the Darling,” he says. “We need strong representation in the cities and to get our message across but it’s extremely difficult and I’ve been involved in many attempts.”

Soon after taking on the regional leadership role with the Macquarie Valley Irrigators Association, Michael was named the inaugural chairman of the NSW Irrigators Council in 1983. The NSWIC grew to become the peak irrigator lobby group for NSW and he continued his role as Chairman up until 1987.

IPF Service to Industry Recipient 2017MICHAEL BENNETT

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“One of the biggest highlights was setting up the NSW Irrigators Council which after 35 years is still strong,” he says. “We were also involved in setting up the National Irrigators Council which is also doing very well as a lobby group for irrigation farmers.”

He remained a member of the council, continuing to represent irrigators in the Macquarie valley up until 2015. In 1985 Michael became a member of the Australian Water Research Advisory Council (AWRAC), a role he continued until 1989. In 1987 Michael became a member of the Community Advisory Council (CAC) of the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council, representing the National Farmers Federation until 1989. In 1987 he was also elected to the Macquarie River Advisory Committee (1987 – 1999), which preceded the current State Water Macquarie Customer Service Committee. He was a member of the Central West Total Catchment Management Committee from 1990 to 1994 prior to establishment of the Central West Catchment Management Board. It was during this time he also joined the Irrigation Program Management Committee of the Land & Water Resources Research and Development Corporation (LWRRDC) (1993 – 1998).

Following his term with the Central West Catchment Management Board Michael went on to become a member of the State Catchment Management Committee, overseeing the 17 Catchment Management boards within NSW (1994 – Dec 2003). During this time he also joined the State Wetlands Advisory Committee (SWAC) 2001-2003, representing New South Wales Irrigators Council. In 2000, Michael became Chairman of the State Water Macquarie Customer Service Committee, a role he continued in until 2013. This committee serves as irrigator’s input into State Water’s operation of its bulk water delivery business. The committee provides input to State Water on issues including water pricing reform, the Macquarie’s Total Asset Management Plan and other customer service issues. From 1998 to 2003 as the Member representing Macquarie River Food & Fibre, Macquarie/Cudgegong River Management Committee (1998 – 2002). This committee was undertaking a Water Sharing Plan for the Minister for Land & Water Conservation and the Plan which would dictate irrigator entitlements for the next 10 years.

In 2004, Michael was elected as Director of the State Water Corporation and continued to serve until 2010. He is currently a member of the Centre for Water Policy Research’s Advisory Committee at UNE Armidale.

He is also a member of the North West Water Quality Management Committee within the Department of Land & Water Conservation.

A founding member of the Inaugural Executive Committee of Macquarie Valley Landcare, Michael was instrumental in establishing Macquarie 2100, a local community group working to implement projects to meet social, environmental, economic and other objectives identified in their 100 year plan. Among other achievements in his long, illustrious career, Michael became a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and was made a life delegate to the NSW Irrigators Council in 2016 for long and outstanding service to irrigators of NSW. In continuing his involvement with industries bodies, he became a member of the DPI Water SAP committee negotiating Macquarie Cudgegong Water Resource Plan in 2016. “During my time being involved the biggest change in policy has been the allocation of productive water to the environment, which has caused a lot of heart break in the regions across Australia,” he explains. “Luckily we were able to get property rights installed for water which means that when governments want water they have to buy it from the users. The fact that there is such a large amount of water now allocated to the environment is one of the biggest challenges into the future.”

Michael Bennett has proved a selfless, long term advocate for farmers’ water rights taking on critical leadership roles over 36 years. During this time he has achieved significant progress for irrigators by fighting to protect their critical water assets. Michael has done this in a spirit of cooperation, collaboration and goodwill that has earned him great respect among his irrigator colleagues as well as government bureaucrats. “The most important thing is that the policy makers need to engage the communities away from our regional communities,” he says. “The way to promote cotton is as successful, sustainable, and as an industry that generates jobs and income in the regions and also in cities. My hopes for the future of the cotton industry is sustainable water use, that the availability of water to us is not compromised, that our property rights are recognised into the future, so that these industries can continue their magnificent development in terms of productivity and efficiency.”

He also believes succession planning is critical to the future representation of the cotton industry. “One of the most important things is that we bring younger people into these decision making roles and help them understand the very complex financial and economic models that govern water.”

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Greg and Maryann Bender have developed unique solutions to irrigation and workforce challenges arising on their 1,000 hectare mixed farm ‘Burradoo Plains’ near Chinchilla in Southern Queensland. They are currently growing irrigated and dryland cotton in rotation with faba beans, chickpeas, barley and corn. After first growing dryland cotton in 1992, Greg and Maryann began irrigating, and in more recent years, have taken full advantage of treated Coal Seam Gas (CSG) water allocations.

Burradoo Plains features a complex irrigation system, developed and installed by Greg, which has dramatically improved water efficiency, while also overcoming the challenge of pumping water over 10 kilometres and 30 metres uphill. He uses a centre pivot, two automated lateral irrigators, one of which is 1,200 metres long, and conventional furrow irrigation to deliver 1,500 megalitre of treated CSG water onto crops. Water is pumped from the river, through a four kilometre channel system and is raised 30 metres to reach the top of the farm. Greg uses the steeper slope of the flood irrigation fields, dropping away by 3 to 4 metres each kilometre in some areas, to catch and reuse runoff. Overhead watering systems help achieve smaller, more frequent watering. Using this multifaceted approach Greg and Maryann have been able to use water more efficiently and improve yields. For his creative approach to irrigation systems, Greg was awarded the 2017 Darling Downs Cotton Growers Association Award.

The estimated yield for the 2017/18 season is 11 bales per hectare for irrigated cotton and 3.75 bales per hectare for dryland cotton. Interesting features of crop management on Burradoo Plains include the introduction of January and August planted corn which has allowed the use of water to be spread more evenly over the growing period, improving the cotton yield. Greg also participates in fertiliser trials, rotates herbicides and employs a soft approach to overall spraying.

Burradoo Plains has just two full time staff, including Greg, but has had great success employing overseas farm workers through an international exchange program called Rural Exchange. As a host trainer, they accommodate students from places such as Denmark, Switzerland and Austria who are completing the last year of a four year course to become farmers.

By implementing good management techniques such as open communication, inductions and safe working conditions, the Bender’s have been able to use a transient foreign workforce to meet their labour requirements at any given time. It has helped fill the labour void caused by CSG companies operating in the area.

Greg and Maryann are currently working through the ‘myBMP’ (Best Management Practices) registration which has also helped create a good working environment for their unique workforce.

Greg and Maryann are developing and farming with the future in mind. “What the future involves is the implementation of processes so that if anyone wishes to take it on or we pass it on, it’s a lot easier to operate and it’s a business worth operating,” Maryann explains.

COTTON‘Burradoo Plains’, Chinchilla, Qld

GREG AND MARYANN BENDER

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COTTON‘Avondale’, Rowena, NSWBERNIE BIERHOFF

In his role as farm manager on ‘Avondale’, near Rowena in Western NSW, Bernie Bierhoff is committed to progressive farming strategies, conserving water and supporting the local community. After more than 16 years in the position he has left an indelible mark on the family owned business by initiating improvements to crop and soil management. His tireless contribution to the wider industry has helped inform his holistic farming approach.

Avondale is expecting an average yield of 14.2 bales of cotton to the hectare this year in a crop a fraction of its usual size due to ongoing dry conditions. The property features a large-scale, gravity fed furrow irrigation system which allows for quick and efficient movement of water to achieve consistent high yields. Avondale also includes large dryland fields suitable for cereal or cotton when conditions allow.

Having more irrigable land than water available has driven Bernie to improve water efficiency over the years, developing a system that is beneficial for both the property and the environment. “We grow cotton in fields that minimise conveyance losses and we order water as per crop needs so there is less water in storages exposed to evaporation,” he explains. “Moisture probes guide our water scheduling and the gravity fed furrow irrigation systems allow for quick movement of large volumes. We have also made improvement to delivery and tail water systems.” To overcome challenges posed using siphons over such a large area, Bernie developed purpose built trailers to safely mobilise hundreds of siphons at a time. It is an example of his innovative approach to reducing occupational health and safety hazards.

Bernie responds to the challenges of managing such a vast area of land of some 70,000 hectares, by maintaining flexibility in his approach. “Being adaptive in our management of individual fields has allowed us to respond to identified issues quickly,” he explains. “Over time we have increased our irrigation flexibility which in turn has increased yields. This has led to some years planting less cotton but increasing yields per hectare, purely because irrigation needs are met at all times. All crop management efforts are geared towards minimising crop stress events of any kind between planting and picking. We try to keep our fully irrigated fields in what we refer to as ‘luxury mode’”.

Bernie combats rising cost of production and reduces environmental impacts by minimising spray and fertiliser applications. Maintaining crop earliness helps avoid late season pests and thorough field monitoring ensures applications are timely. The application of fertiliser is reduced by growing all cotton in a cereal and legume rotation while stubble is retained where possible to build organic matter. He keeps a strong focus on avoiding compaction and has introduced soil microbe enhancer technologies. Bernie has also been able to use the large scale of the property to reduce disease.

“A positive trade-off of having more irrigable land than water available is that we have a very low incidence of verticillium wilt and black root rot on our farms due to crop rotation, reduced plantings of cotton and farm hygiene.”

Bernie is an early adopter of new technologies and techniques. He introduced the application of black urea on Avondale for slow release nutrients which are more readily accessible to the crop at any stage. He also plans to adopt tools such as remote access pheromone traps to ensure spray applications are more targeted. He remains at the forefront of new research through frequent involvement with extension research trials. Avondale Ag has completed the assessment stage of ‘myBMP’ (Best Management Practices) and are now working towards the audit. This process has led to improvements in staff management and farm safety.

Avondale currently employs 25 full time staff members and up to 50 part time workers through busy periods. Bernie believes supporting the local community is a crucial factor in attracting good staff to the isolated area. Bernie is the Vice Chair of the Walgett Cotton Growers Association and frequently takes part in local fields days and fundraising efforts for the local school. “We raise money for our local school through Avondale Ag and our work with some of the larger chemical companies,” he says. As a well respected member of his community, Bernie is also on the grower advisory panel to Monsanto, the Chair of the biotech panel on Transgenic and Management Insect Management Strategy (TIMS) and a CSD Ambassador Grower. He facilitates work experience positions on the property for children from local schools and collaborates with the University of New England (UNE) by participating in the UNE careers day and supporting the rugby team. Bernie has also coordinated efforts to house local residents in time of flood and fire. Avondale is a family oriented business, with a huge emphasis on sustainability and farming for future generations. “We’re a family owned business and it’s run like a family owned business,” Bernie says. “We talk well to each other and it’s all about farming for the future. We look after our soils in a way that the next generation can still be here farming.”

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COTTON‘Mundine’, Goondiwindi, QldBRETT CORISH

Brett Corish is an innovative cotton grower who is committed to farming for the future. Located near Goondiwindi, ’Mundine’ is a 10,000 hectare property consisting of 2,000 hectares of developed country, 2,500 hectares of dryland and a grazing operation. Since taking charge of the property Brett has implemented changes to improve water efficiency and yields. He is inventive in his approach to overcoming challenges on farm, and his extensive involvement in research trials and industry bodies, enables him to remain at the forefront of new technologies.

Brett has directed the transition from siphon to bankless irrigation which has, so far, achieved water savings of 5 to 10 percent, while also increasing yields by a similar margin. The bankless irrigation has also allowed quicker recycling of tail water, more evenness of flow and requires only one person to irrigate large areas. Brett had designed a pop-up water indicator on newly developed areas of bankless irrigation fields. The water triggers a mechanism to raise a flag that indicates the position of the water. This has improved time efficiency as there is little need to manually check the position of the water. Brett has also introduced subsurface drip irrigation and has remaining areas of siphon irrigation.

His well developed farm management, with a strong focus on monitoring performance and setting benchmarks, has lead to a prolonged period of high yields. Brett also places a strong focus on reducing cost of production. He is constantly trialing new ideas such as reconfiguring machinery and looking at ways to reduce passes through timing. He also pays close attention to educating the staff around siphon usage, and demonstrating siphon positioning and placement, which can double water use efficiency. Mundine is an accredited ‘myBMP’ (Best Practise management) farm and have been very active with Better Cotton. Brett believes that ‘myBMP’ is a very strong asset for the Australian Cotton industry and knowing that they are a part of a leading team producing cotton and sustainable farming practises at the highest level is very positive for his farm and team.

Close attention to detail and sophisticated monitoring enables Brett to reduce fertiliser inputs. Soil and tissue testing and satellite imagery are frequently employed to ensure the most accurate application rates. Manure from his sheep feedlot is utilised each year as part of their fertiliser program, while a wheat and barley rotation is also employed to improve the health of the soil.

Strict farm hygiene practices help keep soil diseases minimal.

“We try and pay particular attention to detail,” he says. “We look at what we’re trying to achieve right across the business, not just in our irrigated country but also in our drylands farming and our stock.”

Brett believes family support and exceptional staff are among the greatest assets of the business. With low turnover and good staff retention he is able to achieve continuity in the running of the farm. The business employs four full-time staff members, two of whom have worked on Mundine for over a decade. “I work very closely with my brother, my father and staff,” Brett explains. “Keeping regular staff here on a full-time basis is fantastic.”

From water boards, to coach of the junior rugby team, Brett’s community involvement is extensive. It has also included Cotton Growers Association, field day committees and Border River Food and Fibre. He works tirelessly to change negative perceptions of farming and improve water security. “The greatest challenge in our business is ensuring that we’re sustainable into the future through profitability, through the environment and also management of all the socio-economic values throughout farming,” Brett says. “It’s about making a good return out of the hard work we put into it but also being sustainable so we’re here for a long time and are able to pass it onto our children.”

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COTTON‘Battery Hill’, Gunnedah, NSWPETER LENNOX

Based on ‘Battery Hill’, near Gunnedah, NSW, Peter Lennox is implementing enhanced farming practices and carefully managing natural assets to create the most sustainable operation possible. He is achieving yields of between 10 and 12 bales of cotton to the hectare using four to five megalitres of water to the hectare. “We strive for low water usage year in and year out, and we focus on utilising all [of] our infrastructure in the most productive way,” Peter says.

Battery Hill is minimally staffed with just one other full time employee. For the 2017/2018 season an average yield of ten bales of cotton to the hectare is expected. Cotton is grown back to back, off long fallow and in a cereal rotation to which sorghum was recently added to improve soil health. Peter has achieved impressive results in a short period of time, re-entering the cotton industry just five years ago. Through careful planning and close attention to detail he is managing Battery Hill as if it were his own.

Peter has incorporated a centre pivot into his water delivery system to reduce water usage. He is planning to install a lateral move to increase the area of irrigated crop and phase out the growing of back to back cotton. The current mix of irrigation types allows him to get water across his crops swiftly, which Peter says is of huge benefit. “The greatest advantage for us would be getting over our 300 hectares, and basically watering it, in seven days,” he explains. “It gives us the option not to have to rush that irrigation and start before we need to, we can leave it until it needs water and get it there on time and quickly.”

Peter is focused on introducing the latest technologies and staying informed about the latest research.

He uses probes and web connected pivot calibration to monitor water usage and has hosted Cotton Seed Distributors trials, Department of Primary Industry water productivity trials and manure and composting trials.

Recently, Peter initiated and obtained ‘myBMP’ (Best Management Practices) certification, a farm and environmental management system delivering the tools to guarantee Australian cotton is produced through best practice. Peter has also implemented Integrated Pest Management on Battery Hill which allows him to control pests in a way that is effective yet environmentally sensitive. It has resulted in a reduction in spraying.

Peter is an active member in his local community but also contributes to industry bodies by hosting field days and participating in trials. In 2017 Peter won the Upper Namoi Cotton Grower Association’s Grower of the Year award.

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Glen Whittaker is a Warren based grower with a strong focus on water sustainability and grassroots management. He carried out the transition from grazing to farming on Wingfield and is proud of the operation he has built. His extensive involvement in water politics over the years has enabled him to develop an intimate understanding of the challenges that face cotton growers and how to overcome them. Wingfield sits on 3,500 hectares in the Central West region of NSW. Glen farms 400 to 600 hectares of cotton each year and is expecting a yield of 15.4 bales of cotton per hectare for the 2017/18 crop. “We probably have a greater focus on preparation and the people - but obviously yield is king so the main thing is trying to get the best out of our water and our country.”

The property is completely set up for furrow irrigation in 700 metre runs and recently underwent major upgrades of tailwater, returns and pipe infrastructure. Glen has on farm meters in place to monitor water use and works constantly to find efficiencies. “Our business is focused on irrigated cotton, so water reliability and planning for the future is our biggest challenge,” he says. Water security remains an ongoing concern on Wingfield and Glen believes overland water harvesting will be part of the solution into the future.

With 2 - 3 permanent staff, the close-knit nature of the business is one of its major strengths. “We’re a relatively small scale business, so we can be flexible,” Glen says. “I think we’ve got ourselves a really easily managed unit and we’re in the crop all the time, so we’re certainly managing it at ground level while continuing to grow good cotton.”

Glen has introduced procedures to improve working conditions for his employees and their families, implementing what he calls a ‘kind irrigation system’ with no night changes. Glen has developed a great rapport with his team and believes this also makes for a smoothly run operation.

“We have some great relationships with people that work for us and with us, that makes life so much easier.” Glen’s involvement in water politics has extended to Macquarie River Food and Fibre, and the Cotton Growers Association. “I’ve been involved in a lot of water politics, which is sometimes an achievement and sometimes more a frustration,” he explains. “But it’s about being part of the industry, part of the community and earning the respect of others”. Wingfield is ‘myBMP’ (Best Management Practices) ready and the process has already led to the installation of signs as well as upgrades to water storages and workshops.

Glen believes the greatest strength of the cotton industry is the way in which it manages to consistently attract young, motivated people. He has watched the Australian cotton industry thrive over the years and says there have been many positive changes since he began his career. “When I first started out in the cotton industry, we were chasing two to five bales to the acre,” he explains. “Now we’re chasing fives and sixes or higher, so I think the industry has just evolved and become much more professional.”Throughout his career, Glen has dedicated much of his time to ensuring he is an active member of his local community through his representative work and also his involvement in and the Macquarie Field Day. “We should be proud of what we do and proud of the people that work alongside us,” he says. “It’s an industry that supports each other and I can’t see myself anywhere else.”

COTTON ‘Wingfield’, Warren, NSW

GLEN AND NARELLE WHITTAKER

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Robert has had an immeasurable agronomic impact on the cotton industry. He began his career with a Diploma of Applied Science in Agriculture from Hawkesbury Ag College and started out with the Department of Agriculture soon after graduating. He later moved on to Cotton Seed Distributors and has been a vital driving force for many advancements within the industry.

Robert’s passion and dedication to the Australian cotton industry is firm. He is the prime mover behind Federation Farm, a not for profit community farm using treated effluent water to irrigate cotton along with a variety of other crops. Robert has also acted as a mentor to trainee agronomists with the Department of Agriculture and young extension and development agronomists with Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD).

“I guess I’m a generalist,” he explains. “As an agronomist you’re involved in lots of different focuses about how to grow plants better and in the case of cotton that starts before the cotton’s planted and finishes long after the cotton’s been picked.” During his time as an agronomist, Robert provided advice and extension to growers on a broad range of winter and summer crops, with a particular interest in dryland cotton. He was an early supporter of zero till farming practices, and is known for being consistently available to his growers. Robert has been involved in numerous variety trials and presentations, including the Cotton Seed Distributors Cotton Mangement Tour where he would provide end-of-year updates and recommendations. He was also part of consistent staff training and mentorship throughout his career, while assisting with funding for schools within his local Wee Waa community.

Robert has collaborated with other researchers to conduct independent trials in comparisons of row crop configuration to measure differences and benefits across the various locations where dryland cotton is grown. These trials allowed growers to handpick the most suitable fit for their respective systems when acknowledging variants such as rainfall, soil type and season length.

Robert has been instrumental in expanding the dryland cotton growing area by working out how to take advantage of a planting opportunity in October or early November. This allowed growers to take advantage of potential rainfall and healthier growing conditions later in the season while evading the summer temperatures and deferring flowering and boll

development. He played a key role in supporting the expansion of dryland cotton as an option throughout the whole industry. His leadership in this area has been a huge contributing factor in the dryland industry, expanding from its traditional regions to further east, south and west. Areas where this is especially obvious include Quirindi, Tamworth, Inverell and the central west, as well as in the western McIntyre, Gwydir and Namoi Valleys.

During his time at CSD, Robert led the development and research of the seed treatment program, which included the evaluation of insecticides, fungicides and nutritional products, the evaluation of Bion and the evaluation of Plant Growth Regulants when applied as seed treatments. Robert is a familiar spokesperson, often speaking on behalf of the cotton industry and helping to raise the profile of the industry.

He has served as chair and vice chair of the Narrabri Community Education Trust. He is also a member of the Lower Namoi Cotton Growers Association, where he has sat as secretary.

Robert’s commitment to guaranteeing the success of the dryland cotton industry is admirable, often acting on behalf of dryland growers to get issues recognised. He has been part of the Dryland Growers Group from its establishment and has been active in finding dryland growers to host CSIRO breeding trials. Robert enjoys the fact that the cotton industry is ever-evolving, and is looking forward to seeing what comes next. “I think we’re the envy of the world in many ways with the yields that we achieve and I can’t see that changing anytime soon.”

COTTON

ROBERT EVELEIGHFormerly of Cotton Seed Distributors,

Narrabri

www.australiancottonawards.com

Dr Joseph Foley, Dr Alison McCarthy and Dr Malcolm Gillies have brought engineering expertise and knowledge to the cotton industry in areas of infield irrigation and water management skills, as well as software and instrumentation development for irrigation improvement. The researchers make up the Smart Automated Irrigation Team as part of the University of Southern Queensland’s National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture. Over the past fifteen years, USQ has been focused on improving irrigation performance and cotton production. The NCEA team’s most recent work has drawn upon many technological developments in irrigation management, measurement, and control for application in cotton irrigation systems. Together they are working towards improving irrigation management performance with existing irrigation systems, delivering real benefit to the cotton industry through total water productivity growth.

Dr Joseph Foley is leading the charge in the development of precise and automated control systems in broad acre furrow irrigation and centre pivot systems across sites from the Burdekin, Darling Downs, Lower Namoi as well as northern Tasmania. Joseph first engaged with irrigation measurement in cotton in 1999. Since then, he has specialised in technologically advanced water and irrigation engineering systems. His early work in the late 1990s and early 2000s focused on improved performance of centre pivot and lateral move machines for the Australian cotton industry. “The cotton industry takes advantage of the modern automation processes that are available in other industries to assist them with irrigation performance improvements,” Joseph says.

Dr Alison McCarthy is a mechatronic research engineer, developing and evaluating plant sensing and irrigation control systems for the cotton industry since 2010. Most recently, she has been busy refining image analysis and irrigation control algorithms for the crop mapping and yield prediction MVPs, as well as the automation demonstration sites.

Dr Malcolm Gillies is a talented irrigation engineer, having effectively designed, configured and developed automated furrow irrigation systems in both cotton and sugarcane. He has developed and applied SISCO modelling systems for irrigation optimisation in cotton, and led the Sugar Research Australia project ‘modernisation of furrow irrigation in the sugar industry’ to great results by automating furrow irrigation in sugarcane fields.

“I think the cotton industry has a bright future and as a researcher I’m proud and excited to be part of that.” The team has also played a critical role in the development of VARIwise, a unique and site specific irrigation control system that uses crop production models for site specific crop growth prediction. VARIwise also incorporates historical and real time soil and crop measurements, simulating site specific irrigation control strategies using OZCOT, the industry standard cotton production model. It involves the use of camera based methods to estimate cotton growth, yield, soil moisture and nitrogen status. Field trials of this technology have proven five to twelve percent water savings, and ten to eleven percent yield improvements. The NCEA team’s research has delivered automated irrigation solutions across numerous large commercial fields so that enhanced irrigation management may be applied. As a direct result of their research, growers on cooperating farms can remotely open valves and gates to automatically complete furrow irrigation. During the past four years, these researchers have participated in numerous bus tours, field days and extension opportunities through the CottonInfo team. They have published irrigated cotton research through several papers in international peer reviewed journals, and presented cotton research findings at conference events such as the Australian Cotton and Irrigation Australia Conferences. The team is grateful for the opportunities research funding bodies within the industry offer. “Companies such as CSD are very important for our research because they enable us to connect with our growers,” says Malcolm.

COTTON

DR JOSEPH FOLEY, DR ALISON MCCARTHYAND DR MALCOLM GILLIES

University of Southern Qld,Toowoomba

www.australiancottonawards.com

COTTONMonsanto Australia, ToowoombaDR KRISTEN KNIGHT

Dr Kristen Knight began her role with Monsanto in late 2005. From then till now, she has found herself at the head of various activities contributing to the cotton industry. Kristen leads Monsanto’s continuing resistance monitoring program, working to cultivate an understanding of the field performance of Bollgard® technologies. She also leads the local development of Bollgard 3, including improvement and scientific positioning of the Bollgard 3 Resistance Management Plan (RMP) and collection of regulatory field data. She was heavily involved in the introduction of Bollgard 3 which played a fundamental role in the proactive approach the Australian cotton industry has in managing insect resistance. “My main research focus is the stewardship of Monsanto’s Bollgard technologies and I also run the work that’s required to bring the new insect protector traits to the Australian market,” she explains.

Kristen’s work has led to the revised RMP which will continue to protect Australian cotton from the threat of insect resistance. A solid understanding of the resilience of Bollgard 3 was key in altering the RMP. Kristen also completed extensive testing and experiments to fill numerous data gaps and model the strength of Bollgard 3. She headed the technology development team, spending more than four years guiding concentrated trial work to provide the scientific evidence to inform this understanding and support the RMP modifications.

This trial work has benefited Australian cotton growers in a number of ways. The refuge area required was halved from ten percent unsprayed cotton to five percent unsprayed cotton or, alternatively, from five percent pigeon pea to 2.5 percent pigeon pea. This will significantly reduce farmers’ resources and costs set aside specifically for the compliance of the RMP. It also made way for the introduction of lessened time constraints on planting.

It means farmers will have better opportunities to plant when they choose to take advantage of rainfall.

Another major project for Kristen was the development of sound and reasonable explanations for the causes of field survivorship of Helicoverpa armigera in Bollgard II cotton. She conducted a series of innovative experiments which directly resulted in recommendations for increased monitoring of pest populations during peak flowering and more support for growers in understanding and managing the low survival levels on Bollgard II cotton crops.

Kristen successfully leads a small team in achieving critical outcomes for local adaption. She is highly respected within the Australian and international cotton industries, along with the wider scientific community. Kristen’s dedication and passion for her role is admirable, and her work in resistance management strengthens technology stewardship for the Australian cotton industry.

“I really love being part of the cotton industry as I’m really passionate personally about what I do,” she says. “Also I’m passionate about the team I work with at Monsanto, but I also think the cotton industry is really innovative and I have really enjoyed working with like minded people throughout my career. Research funding bodies are also an integral part of Australian cotton research and I think they’ll always be valued.”

www.australiancottonawards.com

Jake Cutcliffe plays a fundamental role in navigating

Auscott’s agronomic decisions at its Gwydir Valley

operations and is focused on delivering a profitable annual

cropping program. He is a University of New England

graduate with a Bachelor of Agribusiness (Marketing) and

a Post-Graduate Degree in Agriculture (Cotton Production)

under his belt. Jake received the 2017 Gwydir Valley Cotton

Growers Association Young Achiever Award.

Jake oversees up to 4,000 hectares of cotton, looking

after a range of industry trials, including the Gwydir Valley

Irrigation Association Row Configuration Optimisation Trial

which ran from 2014 through to 2017. Being at the head

of this trial saw Jake present at cotton field days, grower

meetings and at the 2016 Australian Cotton Conference.

He has been effective in sharing important data and

knowledge gained through conducting trials, so that it

may benefit the whole industry. He has also been a driving

force behind the development of strategies to optimise

crop performance on Auscott’s Gwydir Valley farms.

In 2016 Jake take on a major leadership role in Auscott’s

Agronomy Department and began supervising agronomic

inputs across the company’s Gwydir Valley operation.

During this season Jake’s leadership combined with a

positive seasonal change led to the best farm financial

performance in six years. Jake managed the agronomy

across the summer cropping area of 3,200 hectares, as

well as the winter cropping area of 9,000 hectares. He

is continually working to improve Auscott’s water use

efficiency through programs such as the CSD Ambassador

Program and the Row Configuration Trial. Findings

resulting from these programs aided in guiding Auscott’s

decision to shift its farming system to three metre wheel

centre pivots across the dryland and irrigated country in

the Gwydir Valley.

Jake has made significant contributions to industry as

a member of Crop Consultants Australia, Gwydir Valley

Cotton Growers Association and Gwydir Valley Irrigators

Association Irrigation Efficiency Steering Committee.

He is constantly pushing for improvements in yields,

quality and efficiencies and actively encourages other

industry members to investigate, collaborate and learn

from one another’s’ experiences through engagement

and communication. “The backbone of the industry is

communication and trial work experiences,” he says.

“Doing trials and growing crops and just being part of the

conversation helps everyone grow together. It’s definitely

an industry where everyone’s trying to better everyone

around them, I can pick up the phone and talk to a number

of growers, agronomists, researchers and, realistically,

those people gain nothing other than helping me so that’s

the biggest reward, the conversation around it.”

COTTONAuscott Ltd MoreeJAKE CUTCLIFFE

www.australiancottonawards.com

COTTON

Bill Back is the farm manager of Auscott’s Namoi Valley operation and is also an experienced, well established agronomist. In his role at Auscott Bill is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the 9,000 hectare cotton farm and is focused on remaining at the forefront of cotton development. “The most rewarding part of my role is harvesting the crop,” he says. “You work all summer and make management decisions and then it’s very exciting to get to the end of the crop and see what you’ve achieved.”Bill has demonstrated a unique ability to take advantage of the cotton industry’s developments in variety, design, technology, technique and operations to achieve performance goals. He is always looking for ways to implement new technology and decision support tools to boost the precision of production systems, resulting in better yield, fiber quality and resource management. “Increased yield and quality is pushing the intensity of production in growing cotton,” he says.

“Machinery is becoming more sophisticated to do this, and the timing of operations is becoming tighter. Agronomy, industry, equipment manufacturers and employers will continue to evolve to provide the cotton industry with an increasingly technical and precise service.” As well as running a large farm, Bill also contributes to the broader industry as a professional agronomist, inspiring education, mentoring and promoting an optimistic image of the cotton industry. He has been involved in various on-farm programs that are making important contributions to the constant improvement and management of cotton. He actively works with research organisations to facilitate on farm trials, while also hosting field days.

With the Australian Cotton Research Institute next door to Auscott’s Narrabri operation, Bill frequently welcomes visitors and industry groups onto the farm, including Monsanto groups, Tocal College students, researchers from ACRI, local school students and students from the University of New England’s cotton course.

Bill is deeply passionate about enabling people to experience cotton farming and agronomy first hand. In recent years Bill has hosted Cotton Australia’s Fashion on the (Cotton) Field, Sydney University’s annual Soil Science field trip for the past seven years, the Primary Industry Centre for Science Education students and work experience students. He also runs tours with cotton industry veteran Jack Murray, helping groups of up to fifty retirees to understand cotton and the industry.

While at university, Bill completed an Honours research project on cotton in 2006. He also completed the Cotton Leaders Course in 2017, and was a participant in the Cotton Seed Distributor Ambassador Program. Bill is a professional member and board director for Crop Consultants Australia. Currently, he is the Communications Director, working closely with the executive team to prepare news articles for various industry publications relating to existing and emerging issues for the agronomy profession and the cotton industry. Bill is also leading the Crop Consultants Australia Advisory Committee for the Cotton Pest Management Guide.

Auscott Ltd NarrabriWILLIAM (BILL) BACK

www.australiancottonawards.com

Namoi Valley agronomist Sam Simons is actively involved in a range of industry trials and works directly with growers to improve production performance. Through his position with agronomy firm, Agromax, Sam has conducted a significant amount of trial work focusing on the adoption of new varieties, products, irrigation efficiencies, tailored fertility programs and cutting-edge technology. “I’ve been trying to drive yields and productivity with all my growers and thinking outside the box by doing a lot of experiments,” he says.

Sam kicked off his career while studying at university, taking on a CSIRO Summer Scholarship which saw him work with leading researchers Dr Mick Bange, Dr Rose Broderick and Dr James Nielsen.

This sparked Sam’s desire to be at the forefront of industry developments and improvements, and he has since been involved in large scale trials such as the Bayer Cotton Breeding Program and Twink Link Cotton. An active member of Crop Consultants Australia, Sam attends professional development events and participates in member projects and is passionate about helping ensure the Australian cotton industry is considered a world leader in long term sustainability. During his time with Agromax, Sam has demonstrated the benefit of manure and potassium on soil types that characteristically test adequate but are commonly receptive, with cotton, corn and sorghum on irrigated sodic soils being the most significant. He has also been involved in introductory farm trials since 2015 with three growers on plastic films to achieve earlier planting in the short season environment, utilising sowing moisture in marginal temperatures. Sam took part in the Cotton Nutrition and Canopy Management Trial in 2016, where he evaluated the use of plant based hormones, synthetic products and particular nutrients to aide in minimising the level of fruit shedding during major stress events, receiving positive results. Sam frequently works with growers to implement cutting-edge technology on farm. Recently, he has been working on integrating canopy sensors with moisture probes to refine irrigation scheduling, tailored fertility programs

and techniques, assessing the role of alternate crops and practice in light of Verticillium Wilt Management.

In early 2017, Sam helped organise and spoke at a bus tour field day hosted by the NSW Sustain the Basin Irrigated Farm Modernisation Program. The day focused on optimising crop performance under overhead irrigation. Sam has been selected to be part of the Crop Consultants Australia Technical Review Panel for the Cotton Pest Management Guide. In this role, he will provide beneficial input into the preparation of the guide for continual usability for informed decision making. As an agronomist, Sam provides a vital link between researchers and growers, and has a unique capability and interest in effectively communicating and outspreading the fundamental information between them. He sees his contribution to the industry as conducting real time, responsive and investigative research on farm, involving the growers, to ensure that industry developments are practical while addressing crucial infield challenges. Sam is genuinely passionate about the cotton industry, finding it both challenging and rewarding to be part of. In all he does he is guided by an overall aim to achieve the best results for his clients.

COTTONAgromax, GunnedahSAM SIMONS