The Focus on NRM research series introduces you to the key cotton NRM researchers and their work. In this case study, the teams from NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), Murrumbidgee Irrigation and the University of Queensland talk about their research into the noogoora burr complex, under the Control Tools and Technologies for Established Pest Animals and Weeds program.
Stewart Denston is an experienced cotton grower who has been trialling canopy temperature sensors (CTS) for the Macquarie Cotton Grower Association (CGA) since the 2014-15 season, including installing his own sensors in both heavier and lighter soils. The Denston’s have a family farming enterprise that is comprised of three separate farms.
An interview was conducted with Stewart Denston by Amanda Thomas, CottonInfo's Regional Extension Officer in the Macquarie Valley. Amanda has been facilitating the trial work with CTS in the valley for the past four seasons.
The Focus on NRM research series introduces you to the key cotton NRM researchers and their work. In this case study, Sean Freney, Dr Erin Peterson, Dr Susan Fuller outline their research into the impact of remnant vegetation on bat activity.
The case study, conducted by AgEcon/CottonInfo's Jon Welsh and AgEcon's Janine Powell, was undertaken to consider the economic and environmental impact of installing microgrids to offset the energy use of surface water irrigation pumps and a small grain drying facility in the Fitzroy Valley of Queensland. The study aims to find solutions ultimately leading to lower energy costs and greater sustainability through carbon emissions abatement. The study was supported by CRDC.
There are a range of ecosystem service benefits that flow from maintaining on-farm natural assets. Previous research has focused on the relationship of semi-natural vegetation providing individual ecosystem services, for example, biological control or pollination. However, there is little evidence to show the measurable effects of native vegetation on insect pest suppression in cotton production at a landscape scale or the mechanisms underpinning any effect.
Read the results of a CRDC-supported study into the energy use of a QLD irrigator, including analysis on the farm's centre-pivot, river pump and grain-drying facilities, conducted by AgEcon/CottonInfo's Jon Welsh and AgEcon's Janine Powell.
Cover cropping is the process of growing a crop during a fallow period, creating ground cover that helps increase water infiltration, slow evaporation, improve soil carbon and soil mineral nitrogen, and protect the top soil.
In 2018, the CottonInfo REOs went on farm with cotton growers across their valleys to investigate how they include cover crops in their farming systems, and the benefits they get from doing so.
The Focus on NRM research series introduces you to the key cotton NRM researchers and their work. In this case study, Dr Vesna Gagic talks about her research into the combined benefits that pollination and biological pest control have on cotton yield.
The increasing incidence of weeds that cannot be controlled with glyphosate is forcing a rethink on the range and diversity of weed management tactics used in cotton - with growers having to integrate a wider range of management tools.
The CottonInfo REOs recently went on farm with cotton growers in late 2017 to investigate how they are managing the threat of resistant weeds.
The Focus on Irrigation research series introduces you to the key cotton irrigation researchers and their work. In this case study, Drs Hiz Jamali, Rose Brodrick and Michael Bange of CSIRO outline their research into the use of plant sensing technologies for optimising irrigation scheduling in cotton systems.