Cotton Industry
The Australian – and Queensland – cotton industry has gone through a period of renewal in recent years as it recovers from drought and with a return to ‘more average’ seasons in key growing regions.
According to Cotton Australia, the industry is expected to break records in crop size two years running, with the 2011-2012 season tipped to be 583,000 hectares, making it the largest cotton crop ever planted in this country. Cotton in Queensland is grown on the Central Highlands around Emerald and surrounding towns, throughout the Darling Downs and on the Border Rivers west to Dirranbandi. It has also been grown on a smaller trial basis in the Burdekin in North Queensland. In good years, the industry adds more than $2.5 billion in value to the Australian economy.
The crop size and area planted to cotton correlates to water supply. Growers use the best technology and farm practices to ensure maximum water use efficiency. They also choose how many hectares they will plant based on water availability and outlook at the beginning of the season. Queensland produces roughly one third of the Australian crop.