A LARGE-scale trial of dryland cotton has been planted near Horsham this year to test the summer crop in the west Victorian climate.
It’s an extraordinary development for the cotton industry, which is extending further south and comes after The Weekly Times revealed irrigated cotton plantings in the NSW Riverina this season are tipped to soar 53 per cent on last year.
Cotton Seed Distributors extension and development agronomist for Southern NSW and Victoria Jorian Millyard said other summer crops such as dryland sorghum were already grown in the region, so cotton was seen as another summer crop opportunity.
Mr Millyard said 60 hectares of cotton had been planted at the property west of Horsham following a smaller two-hectare trial last season.
He said the cotton crop was planted late this year because of the wet winter and spring and the crop had to be hand harvested and fibre quality was an issue.
“This year he’s still got a full profile of moisture, he increased to 60ha and that encourages someone to come and pick it for him.”
Mr Millyard said it was the only dryland crop of cotton grown in Victoria.
“The gross margins stack up quite well for cotton against sorghum for him,” he said.
The farmer, who did not wish to be named, said it was an “outside-of-the-box trial”.
Monsanto southern NSW regional business manager Luke Sampson said there would also be a small trial of irrigated cotton between Serpentine and Boort.
Source: www.weeklytimesnow.com.au