Identifying key issues to maintain and improve Australian cotton fibre quality (including CottonInfo Technical Lead)

Australian cotton is highly sought after by international spinners and attracts a premium because of its excellent fibre characteristics and reputation for low contamination. This investment continues to support premium cotton production through R&D on: 1. the impact of alternative defoliation practices for harvesting with strippers in dry-land cotton production, on fibre and seed quality, gin turn out and yield, 2. the impact of harvesting and ginning on seed damage and seed coat fragment levels in cotton lint produced by Southern gins 3. the impact of limited water and irrigation timing on fibre quality, 4. the impact of priming defoliation on yield, fibre quality and gin turn out.