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

Darling Downs
The 2012 cotton season has become the season that never
ends. Unfavourable weather conditions through June and July
has pushed out picking into August. With a significant number
of cotton modules and round bales still sitting in fields across
the Downs, the season still has a way to go. At a time when
most growers are trying to recover from a busy season many are
still slashing and pupae busting old ground and preparing and
fertilising the 2013 season fields.
Gins have been overwhelmed with the volume of cotton
produced this season with estimates of between 650,000 and
700,000 bales being produced. At this stage ginning won’t be
finished until late November or even early December.
Irrigated yields have been close to average ranging between
8.0 and 12.0 bales per hectare. Dryland crops, although varying
significantly from north to south, have averaged between 3.5 to
5.5 bales per hectare. Dryland yields in the northern Downs have
been particularly good. Quality of early crops has also been very
good particularly for strength, length and microaire with most
crops making base or better. Later crops have had problems with
colour and lower strength which you would expect considering
the rain that the Downs received later in picking.
Forward estimates indicate that expected 2013 plantings will
be significantly down on last season’s record crop. Irrigated crops
could be down as much as a third and dryland production could
be down by two thirds. Reduced area of available fallow ground,
lower soil water profiles, greater winter crop plantings and price
pressures (higher grain prices and lower cotton prices) are all
impacting on expected plantings.
Duncan Weir
August 21, 2012
Gwydir Valley
It has been an interesting couple of months for cotton
growers in the Gwydir Valley with the picking process dragging
on, many still have modules in fields awaiting room at the gins.
Although extremely late, yields have been holding up in both
irrigated and dryland crops which is encouraging. The yields look
to be about average with a considerable range in yields across
farms. Major influences in this result have been the speed of
recovery from waterlogging as a result of the two flood events.
Dryland yields are above average even when factoring in the
amount lost due to extended periods of inundation. Many
growers have still made budgeted yields across the entire area
due to quite excellent yields being generated on the remaining
area. What has yet to be seen is how fibre quality is going to be
affected as the gins slowly chew through the modules within
yards.
Growers have been battling to turn country around, a
combination of a late season and frequent showers have
hampered efforts to manage stubble and control pupae.
Favourable conditions are needed to allow trafficking on fields
without too many adverse effects through compaction. Those
planting into back to back situations this season will have less
than ideal preparation for the coming summer.
Winter crops have been set up well and another timely fall
in late September would be welcomed to finish these crops off
nicely.
The general feel in the Valley is that the irrigated area will be
up with Copeton Dam being full and many on farm storages in
District Reports…
healthy condition. Reduction in price has many dryland farmers
doing their sums to assess their summer cropping program. But it
is expected that the area planted to dryland with be significantly
reduced this coming summer
James Quinn
August 6, 2012
Namoi Valley
Picking of the 2012 crop is virtually complete, with only a few
very late dryland fields delayed by the recent rain. Ginning the
current crop continues and most gins in the Namoi will still be
operating well into August. Overall yields in the Namoi have been
variable. The best irrigated yields were in the western half of
the valley. The best crops exceeded 13 bales per hectare with an
average of eight bales per hectare. Irrigated yields in the eastern
half of the valley were impacted by the cool season and disease.
Dryland yields were very pleasing. Some dryland crops in
the upper Namoi achieved over eight bales per hectare and an
average of about 5.5 bales per hectare seems likely. Dryland
yields in the western half of the valley were also exceptional.
Quality has generally been very good but some colour
downgrading occurred as the result of rain during picking,
particularly on later crops.
Winter crops are looking good following regular falls of rain.
Planning and preparation for the 2012–13 cotton season is
well underway. We have had a relatively wet winter but fine dry
weather through late July and August has allowed ground prep
to be completed. Dryland moisture profiles are in good shape
following the wet summer and autumn period. I expect about
62,000 hectares of irrigated cotton will be planted in the Namoi
and about 35,000 hectares of dryland.
Surface water supplies are in very good condition. Keepit is
full and Split rock is at 90 per cent capacity. This will enable most
growers to plant and water a full area. Farm storages on the
Barwon are in good shape but growers would like to see further
flows to top them up.
August–September 2012 The Australian Cottongrower — 63