Many cotton growers are picking, or about to start picking, with the focus firmly on getting the crop off, moving cotton to the gin, and keeping harvest on track. At the same time, growers are dealing with ongoing fuel supply pressure and high input costs, adding extra stress during an already time‑critical part of the season. Here's what the cotton industry is doing - and what's practical for growers right now.
Fuel: keeping harvest and transport moving
Diesel is essential during picking, ginning and freight, and any disruption can quickly affect harvest progress and logistics.
Cotton Australia is actively working with governments, peak farming bodies and supply‑chain partners to make sure the needs of cotton growers are clearly understood, particularly during peak harvest activity.
The focus is on:
- Supporting reliable diesel access so growers can finish picking
- Keeping fuel supply moving through ginning and transport to port
- Ensuring agriculture, including cotton, is recognised as a priority sector if fuel allocation decisions are required
- Advocating for independent fuel distributors to be able to access supply, as many growers rely on them
Cotton Australia is also gathering on‑ground information from growers to ensure real impacts are reflected in discussions with decision‑makers.
For the latest updates on fuel advocacy and supply issues, visit Cotton Australia.
What growers can do now:
- Talk early with your fuel supplier about harvest and transport needs
- Flag issues with your Cotton Australia Regional Manager so they can be fed into industry advocacy
- Factor fuel availability and cost into harvest and freight planning.
Nitrogen: learning from this season and planning ahead
While fuel is the immediate issue during picking, nitrogen decisions made earlier in the season are now showing up in costs, crop performance and margins.
Nitrogen remains one of the largest input costs in cotton systems, and improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is one of the most effective ways to reduce exposure to fertiliser price and supply volatility.
CRDC, working through CottonInfo, is focused on helping growers get more value from the nitrogen they apply - without compromising yield.
Key learnings from industry research and extension include:
- How and when nitrogen is applied matters as much as how much is applied
- Early‑season losses can be significant, particularly around first irrigation events
- Better alignment between nitrogen availability and crop demand can improve uptake
- In some systems, growers have maintained yields while using nitrogen more efficiently, rather than increasing rates
- Products such as enhanced efficiency fertilisers (EEFs) can help when matched to the system and season.
As growers pick and start thinking about what they'd do the same or differently next season, this is the time when NUE learnings are most valuable.
CottonInfo plays the on‑ground role in this work - translating research into practical guidance through Regional Extension Officers, field activities and grower support.
For practical nitrogen and NUE information, tools and extension support, visit CottonInfo.
What growers can do now:
- As you pick, note paddocks where nitrogen performed well - and where it didn't
- Discuss this season's outcomes with your CottonInfo Regional Extension Officer
- Use the off‑season to review rates, timing, products and irrigation interactions
- Focus on efficiency first, before lifting nitrogen inputs next season
- Watch the CottonInfo webinar on alternate nitrogen sources and urea management to help inform next‑season fertiliser decisions.
- For those in NSW and Qld, sign up to be part of the Cotton Low Emissions Intensity Farming Systems (LEIFs) projects, to trial NUE and emissions reduction strategies on your farm. Contact Paul Grundy in Qld (0427 929 172) and Aaron Simmons in NSW (0418 259 550).
Collectively, what Cotton Australia, CRDC and CottonInfo are doing on your behalf:
- Cotton Australia is focused on fuel advocacy to support harvest, ginning and transport right now.
- CRDC, working through CottonInfo, is focused on helping growers reduce nitrogen risk and cost through better efficiency.
- Together, this work is about supporting growers through immediate harvest pressures and longer‑term input challenges.
