Q&A With Matthew Ward
March 10, 2009 How did you get into the cotton industry?
I was born in Bourke in Western New South Wales, Australia, on the Darling River. Both my mother’s and father’s families were wool producers in the area. I went to boarding school at St. Joseph’s college in Sydney and then to the University of New England (UNE) in Armidale – but I always intended to return to rural Australia. Employment opportunities in the early 1990s were mainly in the cotton industry, so I gained experienced in, and developed a passion for, the industry from that point forward.
I am now an agricultural consultant in the Macquarie Valley, and I have lived in Narromine for the past five years. My passions are agriculture and particularly the cotton industry, and what it has to offer not only regional Australia, but our national economy.
What is the current cotton situation in Australia? How is it affected by the drought?
The current situation is very bleak. We have experienced the driest five-year period in our history, and 2006 alone could be the lowest rainfall year in over 100 years. Irrigation allocation in the Macquarie valley is zero, and most other valleys are presently facing less than 10%. ABARE has predicted just 1.6 million bales to be produced this summer, as opposed to 4 million bales if the full 1.2 million acres were planted.
What are the advantages of the Australian industry?
The current situation may not be pretty, but the future does look positive. Australia consistently grows good quality cotton which is highly desired on the world market. We also have a great climate for cotton, and these factors mean the industry will always be present in Australia. An increasing population to feed and biofuel production is offering a light at the end of the tunnel. The more grain that is produced in the world will mean cotton acres will be reduced; with the increasing consumption rates in India and China, the value of cotton should remain strong. Water policy is our biggest hurdle at present, and with 85% of Australia’s population living on the coastline, many people need constant reminding of the importance of Agriculture to Australia. But as always, common sense will prevail and we can continue to be leaders in world cotton production.
How did you choose the topic of your third-place winning essay?
My essay was a little rushed, but I wanted to get the point across that Australian growers produce high yields because they need to. Our input costs make U.S. farmers feel faint, and are so excessive that 4 bales per acre is required to justify producing cotton. My touring throughout the U.S., both with The Cotton Institute and afterwards, made it clear that if many Australian management techniques were adopted in the U.S., they would have the ability to produce higher yields with better quality. Without subsidies in the Australia, farmers and consultants are forced to take the initiative and be the first to find new production techniques that give them a competitive edge. The U.S. already “cops enough slack” over the extent of financial assistance to the industry, but with a reduction in subsidies, the U.S. could continue to grow great cotton. I admit, some areas would struggle, but other areas more suited to cotton production would rapidly become increasingly efficient.
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