Australian Cotton Industry Forum Addresses Water, Labor Issues
July 28, 2011 While people in many parts of the world say speculation about international prices will have the biggest impact on cotton production, Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay says the size of next year’s cotton crop may well be determined by the availability of water and labor, instead.
Kay says that most of Australia’s record-breaking crop this year – around 4 million bales – was planted well before the price went on a year-long roller coaster ride, which means factors like accessing enough workers and having full water allocations are the really important things being considered by Australian growers before they decide to plant cotton.
“The biggest interest in this year’s Cotton Industry Forum, being held in Narrabri August 10, is definitely for the sessions on labor and water, which shows that these are the key issues facing cotton growers as they decide their planting intentions for next year,” he says.
“We know most of this season’s crop was in the ground before the price went through the roof, and while there are relatively positive price signals for next year, the big ticket items at the free Cotton Industry Forum for most growers are clearly the future for water access along, with attracting and retaining enough workers,” Kay says.
Murray Darling Basin Authority Chair Craig Knowles has been invited to attend the Cotton Industry Forum opening session, along with Danny O’Brien from the National Irrigators Council and Ian Todd, who represents the MDBA review panel.
Adam Kay says with a re-drafted basin plan about to be revealed any day, this session could be one of the most important and must see events for every cotton grower this year.
In addition to sessions on mining and the carbon tax, other big event during the one-day forum will be the labor and HR session in the afternoon. “If you had problems keeping your workers or helping to exit those you didn’t want, then you won’t be able to afford to miss this session,” Kay said.
Sessions begin on August 10 with Water and the Murray Darling Basin plan, followed by the future biotechnology pipeline and a special session on the threat to cotton posed by bunchy top disease.
After the complimentary lunch, concurrent sessions include Mining and Coal Seam Gas/Carbon Tax and the Carbon Farming Initiative, with the final sessions on Round Module Picking and Ginning/Labor HR. Following the Industry Forum will be the Australian Cotton Industry Awards Presentation and Cocktail Party, hosted by “Mr. Rugby,” Gordon Bray.
The Cotton Industry Forum is being held at the Crossing Theatre in Narrabri on Wednesday, August 10. For more information, click here.
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