CottonInfo, the Australian cotton industry’s joint extension program, has announced the appointment of a new Regional Extension Officer for the Gwydir Valley, Janelle Montgomery.

Janelle is already an important member of the CottonInfo team, having served as the CottonInfo Technical Specialist for water use efficiency since the team’s establishment in 2012.

In her new role, Janelle will provide the latest research outcomes and findings – across the full CottonInfo research topics – direct to cotton growers, consultants and the wider cotton industry in the region.

Janelle brings extensive experience to her new role within the team, having worked as a Research and Development Officer with NSW DPI, with support from the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) in the Gwydir for the past 10 years. As a result, Janelle already has a strong relationship with local growers, consultants and resellers.

Most recently, Janelle ran a four-day CottonInfo tour for northern cotton growers to southern valleys, to see irrigation automation technologies in practice – to help growers improve their own on-farm efficiencies and practices.

“Janelle will bring her passion for research, knowledge of the cotton industry and extensive existing networks to her new role within the CottonInfo team,” said James Quinn, Manager of Extension and Development at Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD), one of the three joint partners in the CottonInfo venture.

“As a Regional Extension Officer, Janelle’s role will be to connect Gwydir growers with relevant industry research and best practice, supporting them to continue to increase their farm productivity.

“On behalf of the CottonInfo joint venture partners, we congratulate Janelle on her new position within the CottonInfo team. We also thank former Gwydir Regional Extension Officer, Alice Devlin, for her work in this role since CottonInfo’s inception and wish her all the best with her future endeavours,” James said.

CottonInfo is a joint initiative of CSD, 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.

CottonInfo consists a team of Regional Extension Officers across the cotton growing valleys, researchers who are Technical Specialists in their specific fields and myBMP best management practice support staff.

Janelle, whose role is funded by CSD, will transition to her new role within the CottonInfo team in February.