Planting is underway across much of Australia’s cotton growing regions with some crops already out of the ground in warmer climates, some growers holding back for warmer weather while some in tropical areas won’t be planting until rain begins to fall.

Cotton Australia General Manager Michael Murray said the signs for this season are positive with Australia’s 1500 cotton growers, 90% of them family farmers, expecting to generate around 4.4 million bales or one million tonnes of quality fibre, bound for export markets and a similar amount of cotton seed.

“This year we are expecting about 400,000 green hectares to be planted, predominantly in New South Wales and Queensland with crops also being planted in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

“A result in line with expectations will see more than $3.1 billion generated for the national economy with most of that money filtering down into the 249 communities that benefit directly from cotton growing.”

Cotton planting usually occurs in early October in the core growing areas, but with a wide range of geographic areas now growing cotton, planting dates are widespread.

The global outlook for cotton is stable with a recent uptick in cotton futures attributed to potential damage to the US crop due to storms and heavy rain and a surprise reduction to US production forecasts.

“Despite the global situation we are still selling our cotton to a market wanting high quality product and we are experiencing good buyer support from across Asia including China,” Mr Murray said.

“Our growers remain positive on this season’s crop with good conditions including soil profiles, moisture content and water allocations and for most the current price still reflects a profitable outcome with all its flow-on benefits.”

In the Central Highlands of Queensland, where growers have the option of starting to plant as early as August 1, planting is well underway with some growers already witnessing healthy plant growth as crops emerge from the ground.

Emerald grower and the Chair of the Cotton Australia Board, Nigel Burnett, said with carryover from last season and a welcome allocation from Fairbairn Dam, growers are confident.

“We had unseasonal rainfall in August and that enabled a good chunk of the area to be moisture planted, saving farmers from the initial flush-up irrigation and those crops are now out of the ground and looking very good.

“Since planting, the conditions have been warming up and growers are confident about the prospects for the season at this stage.

“I have planted more than 700 hectares so far and if there’s more rainfall over the coming weeks and months, I would look at planting more cotton into late October, November or even December.”

Cotton Australia’s regional managers, based in each of the cotton growing regions, have provided up to date reports on each region as of 27 September:

Central Highlands:

Cotton planting has been underway for several weeks with cotton already out of the ground in some areas with some growers already undertaking first irrigations. The cotton is looking healthy, pleasing growers with plant stand looking strong. The planting conditions were so good, as many got to plant on rain and it’s been so warm that plants were coming out of the ground within days.

Around 20,000 hectares of irrigated cotton is expected with around 4000 hectares of dryland. Ginning will continue through to November, with some cotton still being carted into the gin from northern QLD growers.

Dawson and Callide Valleys

Some growers have started planting the expected 8500 hectares of irrigated cotton with some already finished planting, while others will plant in late September or October. Dryland growers are expected to plant in November. There has been a good start to planting with full allocations helping growers with a positive start to the cotton season.

Darling Downs

One grower has already planted 400 hectares of cotton for this coming season with 30,000 hectares of irrigated and 5000 hectares of dryland expected.

Some recent rain has been welcomed but the weather is cooler so most growers will hold off planting until warmer temperatures in October.

Macintyre Valley

In the Macintyre, growers will be looking to start planting after the long weekend when soil temperatures increase.

Growers are expected to plant about 20,000 hectares irrigated and 8000 hectares dryland. There has been recent rainfall but this won’t affect cotton plant at the moment.

St George/Dirranbandi/Mungindi

Temperatures have been unusual with below average temperatures. In St George one growers has already planted 350 hectares of cotton with the majority expected to begin planting by the 7^th of October.

In St George 22,000 hectares of cotton is expected to be grown with15,000 hectares in Dirranbandi and 18,000 hectares in Mungindi.

Northern NSW

There has been some minor rainfall which has been welcomed by growers. Generally speaking, growers are getting ready for planting which will start in the first two weeks of October. The Valleys would like some more rainfall however soil profiles beneath the surface are satisfactory.

Bourke is expecting to plant 9000 hectares of cotton this season. Walgett 8000 irrigated and up to 8000 for dryland. Lower Namoi is around 25,000 dryland and 30,000 irrigated with Upper Namoi expecting 15,000 irrigated and 17,000 dryland, Gwydir 45,000 hectares irrigated and 33,000 dryland.

Macquarie Valley

There has been some rainfall recent but not significant with some growers pre-watering and planting expected to start for most growers from the 18^{th of} October onwards. This has been a different season with one grower picking the last of their cotton crop as others plan to start planting for the 25 season.

Ginning is still going but is expected to end at the end of October. Close to 30,000 hectares is expected to be planted in the Macquarie Valley.

Southern NSW

Up to 25ml of rain has fallen recently in the area and some growers have already started planting this week but the majority will start planting in early to mid-October.

Around 85,000 hectares is expected to be planted this season with growers hopeful of a good season.

Northern Australia

Up to 80mm of rain has fallen recently in parts of the Top End and temperatures are up around 40 degrees. Crop destruction is underway and will continue into October. The planting window opens in the Northern Territory on December 1 and can continue into January depending on the tropical rain system. In Kununurra planting is expected in February with 8000 hectares expected to go in and 18,000 hectares expected in the NT.