CottonInfo: Crop to Top

Send us a textWhile it's a much looked forward to time of year, there's no getting around the fact that the silly season coincides with one of the busiest times of the cotton season.In this episode we chat with Professor Siobahn Banks from UniSA about how cotton growers and farm managers can best manage the demands of the summer months.Her research to date has focused on the impact of sleep deprivation and shift work on psychological and physiological functioning and how countermeasures may be used to prevent the negative effects of disturbed sleep, in particular work schedules, novel technologies, dietary interventions, napping and caffeine.We cover all of this and more, including some tips for sleep health during busy periods of the cotton season!Resources mentioned:Sleep Health Foundation | Australia's Leading Advocate for Healthy Sleep*Stay tuned for a follow-up discussion on fatigue after the Christmas break about the joint initiative being led by the Rural Safety & Health Alliance (RSHA) - supported by CRDC - the Farming and Fatigue: Growing Sensible Solutions project.This work aims to guide the ag industry to understand, measure and manage fatigue on-farm and there are plenty of key insights available specifically to the cotton industry.

Send us a textThe importance of good spray drift management during the high-risk summer months can't be overstated.In this episode we talk about controlling the controllables (and managing the uncontrollable elements), the critical role of communication among growers and the broader community and the importance of reporting spray drift incidents.Resources mentioned in this podcast:Cotton Australia | Spray Drift appCounter sale guide for phenoxy herbicides | CottonInfowand.com.auspraywisedecisions.com.aucrop.bayer.com.au/tools/weather-inversion

Send us a textCottonInfo has a new Irrigation Technical Lead - Toowoomba-based Michael Scobie.Mick is a certified irrigation designer and is involved in one of CRDC's new research projects that is focused on reducing water loss from storages using floating solar panels.

Send us a textMeet our inaugural CottonInfo Digital Agriculture Technical Lead, Quentin Feery-Lawrence. Quentin is fresh off an Agtech scoping tour across major cotton valleys, where he visited growers and technology providers to identify common challenges and opportunities for technology adoption in the cotton industry.

Send us a textTom Roberts from the National Fire Ant Eradication Program joins the podcast to discuss the invasive characteristics of fire ants and the broad risks they pose to agriculture, infrastructure, and the wider community.While fire ants are not considered a direct threat to cotton yield, there are biosecurity implications for cotton and mixed farming operations. To date there have been detections near cotton growing regions, including the Lockyer Valley, Oakey and Central Queensland.Top tips to stop fire ants from hitching a ride from the National Fire Ant Eradication Program1. Inspect before you move—before relocating any machinery, equipment, or materials, check all surfaces, crevices, and compartments for soil, organic matter, or signs of fire ants and nests.2. Clean thoroughly—wash down machinery and equipment with high-pressure water or air to remove soil and debris. Pay extra attention to wheel rims, tracks, and undercarriages where fire ants often hide.3. Store smart—keep machinery, equipment, and materials on hard, dry surfaces such as concrete or bitumen—not bare soil. Move stored items regularly to discourage nesting.4. Know the fire ant biosecurity zones—if you’re operating within a zone, you must comply with movement controls before transporting materials.5. Report and stay alert—if you see suspect fire ants or nests, report them immediately online or call 132 ANT (13 22 68). Quick reporting helps prevent spread.