New CottonInfo officer connecting growers with research in Central Qld

CottonInfo has announced that new Regional Extension Officer (REO), Kim Stevens, has joined the team.

This role joins REOs already in place in six other regions of the industry, in positions funded by Cotton Seed Distributors as part of the CottonInfo partnership.

CottonInfo Program Manager, Warwick Waters, welcomed Kim to CottonInfo.

“Kim is already known in the industry, as she lives on a farm at Biloela and is a current participant in the Cotton Future Leaders Program,” Mr Waters said. “It has been several years since we have had an REO in Central Queensland, so it is exciting to have Kim in the team.”

The role of the CottonInfo REOs is to work with growers and consultants to develop trusted relationships. They also work with growers and consultants to support regional demonstrations and trials, build networks across industry organisations, and support industry research and development with regional engagement.

“There are exciting opportunities ahead for Central Queensland, which includes the growing regions around Emerald and the Central Highlands, and the Dawson Valley through Theodore, Moura and Biloela,” Mr Waters said.

“These regions also have their own growing season compared to southern areas, which creates a range of unique research, development and extension opportunities.

“Kim will be working with researchers across the industry and within CottonInfo to help growers and consultants in the region. Industry in CQ will be seeing Kim in the paddock soon and we also encourage you to catch up with her and the whole team at the Cotton Conference.”

CottonInfo is a joint initiative of Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD), the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) and Cotton Australia. It is a unique industry partnership that aims to communicate the outcomes of research, encourage grower adoption and improve industry practices.

Kim joins the 20-strong CottonInfo team, which includes her fellow on-the-ground regional extension officers across the cotton growing valleys, researchers who are technical specialists in their specific fields and myBMP best management practice support staff.