In this episode, we’ll talk with cotton producers about their top concerns, seasonal conditions and priority risks.

Hosted by: Sally Williams

The cotton industry is one of Australia’s most significant contributors to the agricultural sector, with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) estimating the gross value of cotton in 2022-23 reaching AU$3.5 billion.

Australia is one of the world’s top four cotton exporters, with the crop being grown by approximately 1,500 farmers in more than 150 regional communities across central and southern Queensland, northern, central and southern NSW, northern Victoria and small areas of northern Queensland, northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Approximately 90% of Australia’s cotton businesses are family farms, producing about 80% of the crop. These families have often lived and worked in their communities for generations.

In this episode of the QFF Farm Business Hour, we will discuss priority risks being faced by the cotton industry including:

• Sustainable cotton farming and water management
• Importance of strengthening supply chains
• Sector-specific education and training
• Workforce shortages
• Research & Development and futures thinking

 The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program.