Cotton growers are reminded to register the location of their crops online using the SataCrop platform.

SataCrop, funded by Cotton Australia and CRDC, alerts spray operators to the location of cotton crops, helping to protect them from exposure to phenoxy herbicides like 2,4-D, which cotton is highly sensitive to.

Registering crops on SataCrop also supports beekeepers. Insecticide applications can impact nearby bee colonies, and mapping fields allows beekeepers to check crop locations and manage their hives accordingly. Recently, a number of hives were impacted because crops were not mapped on SataCrop, leaving the beekeeper unaware of their proximity to cotton.

Good communication with beekeepers is key to ensuring farming and beekeeping can work together. Cotton growers should remain vigilant to hives that are in proximity to their crops. They should also ensure that beekeepers are given adequate notice if insecticide applications are planned so they can move those hives if necessary.

The Cotton Pest Management Guide includes a section on protecting bees and other pollinators, with practical advice and useful resources.