growers@sgcotton.com.au Roger Tomkins - Greenmount Press

After 150 years, cotton returns to
southern Queensland coast
■ By Amy Claireton
COTTON and cane have so far had a rocky relationship
with waterlogging and overcast conditions being major
difficulties for the expansion of cotton into the Burdekin
Irrigation Area.
Since 2007–08, plantings in the BIA have dwindled away
due to several contributing factors and agronomist Matthew
Holding predicts that very little, if any, cotton will be planted in
the Burdekin for the 2012–13 season. The trial expansion that
began in 2004 to test the feasibility of growing cotton early in
the dry season (February–July) seems to have run its course for
the moment and not met the expectations of growers.
“Overcast, rainy weather in February–March resulted in
significant problems and the crop may or may not have enough
time to recover in the drier months as the season also gets
cooler,” said Matthew. “Of course every year is different, so
some years will not have this effect and the crop could potentially
achieve great yields. But, over time it is be expected that average
returns may not be economical, particularly with high freight
costs.”
Year Ha Yield bales/ha Bales
2011–12 est. 350 est. 7 est. 2450
2010–11 350 7.1 2500
2009–10 700 7.1 5000
2008–09 790 6.8 5400
2007–08 830 7.7 6400
But the Burdekin was not the first coastal area in Queensland
to test the viability of cotton growing. When the cotton industry
Maryborough grower Jeff Atkinson is pleased with the first
commercial cotton crop grown in the Maryborough area
since the mid–1800s.
in the US failed during the American Civil War, Australia saw an
opportunity to fill the gap. In 1859 the Maryborough and Wide
Bay Cotton Growing Association formed and successfully grew
cotton on up to 22 hectares for six years. Plagued by various
difficulties, the company folded in 1865. Cotton made way for
sugarcane, which went on to be the mainstay crop for the area.
Over 150 years later, a commercial cotton harvest is again
underway in Maryborough. Jeff Atkinson and Des Morris have
grown a total of 40 hectares of cotton in rotation with their cane
crops and although rain has played havoc with the harvest, the
commercial trial has been deemed a success.
“So far we have been able to harvest about half the crop and
the yields have been worthwhile,” said Jeff. “We grew a very
small area of cotton a few years ago but the only way to find out
if the crop would grow successfully here was to plant a significant
trial area.”
The wet conditions throughout the growing season have
presented the growers with an almost worst-case scenario to
test the feasibility of the crop. “We have learnt a lot about the
requirements of the crop, particularly its nutrient needs,” he said.
“We have had 1000 mm of rain fall during the season and so
have not needed to apply any irrigation but cotton will certainly
be easier to manage and harvest in drier years.”
The crop has so far yielded around six bales per hectare, which
has given the local growers confidence that the crop will be an
option for them in coming years. “We plan to continue planting
trial crops over the next two to three years and then evaluate the
value of cotton in our rotation,” said Jeff.
To be able to grow a commercial trial of cotton in the
Maryborough area Jeff and Des have needed to invest in essential
second-hand machinery, including a cotton picker and modulemaker.
Jeff Atkinson and Des Morris have purchased this secondhand
picker to harvest the crop because it is not feasible
for contractors to come to Maryborough from the Darling
Downs.
42 — The Australian Cottongrower August–September 2012