As cotton picking  wraps up, growers are reminded that cotton stubble and crop residues must not be grazed with livestock.

Many pesticides registered for use in Australian cotton include label withholding period statements that prohibit feeding cotton crop residues to livestock. These requirements are in place to help ensure livestock do not consume residues that could affect market access or food safety.

Growers should also be aware of the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Australian Cotton Industry and the Australian Beef Cattle Industry, which outlines the industry's commitment to preventing cattle from grazing cotton fields after harvest. Under the MOU, cotton growers are responsible for excluding cattle from cotton paddocks containing crop residues.

The MOU also sets out the conditions under which cotton gin trash may be fed to livestock. Growers and livestock producers should ensure they understand and comply with these requirements before using gin trash as stock feed.

Following these requirements helps protect Australia's reputation for producing safe, high-quality cotton and beef, while maintaining access to valuable domestic and international markets.