Cotton supplier Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd (CSD) announced that the improved water availability in the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan Rivers has boosted cotton plantings in southern NSW to around 11,000ha, with Condobolin in central NSW also growing cotton for the first time in three years.
CSD's extension and development agronomist at Narromine, Craig McDonald stated the planting is now complete and the crop's development, although slightly behind last year, is quickly catching up, with Day Degrees now ahead of the long-term average.
He added that the insect pressure has been light, but many soil borne pests, including wireworms and cutworms, are in extremely high numbers necessitating control measures on many farms. Moth traps across the area have revealed low levels of Helicoverpa so far.
Scott Vaessen, Cotton Industry Development Officer based at Griffith stated that it had been a slow start to the season, but crops are now progressing well. No replanting has been required, which is an indication of a relatively good start. Lachlan River irrigators recently received a 15 per cent allocation for this cotton season due to good flows into Wyangala Dam near Cowra. Murrumbidgee irrigators have benefited from good rain upstream with excellent flows in the river.
Scott and Jo Begbie, 'Langs Crossing' at Hay have planted their second crop in the Hay region, all on a 15-inch configuration to fully utilise the shorter growing season there, planting Bollgard II/ Roundup Ready CSD varieties, including the widely adapted variety Sicot 71BR.
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