Cotton picking is underway in Central Queensland with growers in the region recording average results despite the slow start to the season and late rain.

Theodore’s Andrew French, a third-generation farmer and myBMP certified grower, picked 35 hectares of cotton in mid-February but was hit by 100 millimetres of rain that night, which has delayed further picking.

“We hope to be able to get back on the paddock this week to continue picking what we have already defoliated. I’ve got another 200 hectares to pick, and we will grow-on a further 100 hectares.”

Emerald grower Aaron Keily was one of the first to pick this year on January 31, earlier than previous seasons. “We are fairly happy with the result at this stage with about 11 bales per hectare. We had a nice growing season through to December but lost a bit of fruit due to the weather.

“We’ve got another 325 hectares that we have grown on and we expect to harvest that in mid-May. The quality and yields are looking good, and we were happy to receive a further 14% water allocation, so we are looking to carry that forward for next season.”

While only small numbers have been harvested in Central Queensland and the Dawson and Callide Valleys, growers are cautiously optimistic that yields on the grown-on cotton will exceed 14 bales.

Cotton Australia General Manager Michael Murray said generally the signs are good across the country for cotton with expectations that more than 4.8 million bales will be produced.

“Most of our growers have enjoyed favourable weather conditions, but we are mindful that some have been impacted by negative conditions such as very heavy rain, hail or indeed a lack of enough in season rainfall.

“Despite the challenges, we expect to generate more than $3.3 billion for the economy in fibre and seed and that money flows through to our regional and rural economies.”

The Australian cotton growing season usually begins with planting in October but that varies as growers look for the right soil conditions including water profile and temperature before making a decision to plant.

Mr Murray said one of the pleasing aspects this year is some of the new growers emerging in Central Queensland and in the Southern Valleys.

“We attended an ‘acres of opportunities’ information session last year in Kilcummin and there were farmers there looking for other options due to the poor return for sorghum. Of those, several have chosen to grow dryland cotton this season for the first time and the early results are impressive.

“We also have new and emerging growers in the Murray Valley with indications that they too are being rewarded with good crops thanks to the conditions.”

The last crops for season 2025 should be picked in April to May.