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

Students visit
cotton districts
CALROSSY Anglican School Tamworth and McIntyre High
School Inverell Year 12 Agriculture students joined forces
for their third annual trip around the cotton district of
Narrabri, Wee Waa and Boggabri.
Students visited the Cotton Research Institute, Cotton Growers
Services, Cotton Seed Distributers, Auscott Gin and finally
Carrigan’s cotton farm at Milchengrowrie, Boggabri to enhance
their understanding of the many facets of cotton production and
expose them to career opportunities in this innovative industry.
“Our year 12s gain a much greater understanding of concepts
such as plant production, sustainability, GM technology, best
practice and the dynamics of a family farm through memorable
experiences as part of the tour” said Bronwyn Nielsen, Head
Teacher Agriculture, Calrossy. “It’s a great way for our students to
learn collaboratively and exchange ideas. They are challenged and
inspired in an environment where they are exposed to switched
on, passionate people in various sectors of the cotton industry
from plant breeders and agronomists to brokers and agribusiness
analysists and innovative producers”.
Through the enthusiastic assistance and hospitality of the
Carrigan Family, Calrossy students began touring nine years ago,
“It was so interesting, informative and rewarding for our students
we have returned each year and McIntyre High joined us in
2009,” said Bronwyn.
Through the generosity of the Carrigan Family, students get to
ride on spray modules, pickers, buggies and pack tarp modules
after safety training is undertaken.
Students are now starting to apply for cadetships and
undertake bug checking as holiday jobs, considering careers in
the cotton industry as a serious option.
Students inspecting a cotton picker at Milchengrowrie.
news & new products
Innovative
solution to
agricultural need
WELL known tarpaulin manufacturer Polytex of Leeton
has again come up with an innovative solution to an
agricultural need – the Round Bale Ratch-e-tarp®.
With the explosion of cotton being grown in Southern
NSW and the completion of the new cotton ginning complex
at Whitton, Polytex has responded quickly to satisfy a need of
cotton growers, not only in the Riverina – Polytex also supplies
the Australian cotton Industry with covers from north to south.
With the advert of the new round baler picking machines the
needs of cotton growers have swung from the traditional module
covers to a new problem being experienced by growers and gin
sites, damage to the round bale film cover which happens in the
normal handling of round bales.
When film damage occurs, the best practice is to cover the
bale with an emergency Ratch-e-tarp® to stop the film from
continuing to come apart with the possibility of completely
letting go, which then requires the arduous process of hand
feeding the cotton back through the picker. The Polytex Ratch-etarp®
is placed over the bale and is ratcheted up tight, holding the
cotton in place so the bale can be transported without further
problem.
Polytex services the agricultural industry widely with
requirements like grain bunker, hay and cotton covers, dam
liners and shelter covers, also the pig and poultry sector with
their special requirements as well as feed lot shade sails systems.
Transport and mining industries are also serviced with covers,
liners, shelters and a unique range of noise control products.
Polytex specialises in production manufacturing of poly
textile product using ‘state of the art’ technology to design,
manufacture and service the right product Australia wide on time
at a competitive advantage to their customers.
Being situated at Leeton the cross roads of major transport
links between Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane is
ideal for the quick supply of product to the Australian Market.
Ratch-e-tarps can repair damaged round bales.
August–September 2012 The Australian Cottongrower — 59