Strong harvest on the horizon for cotton growers
After years of drought, the 2022 Australian cotton harvest is set to be the second largest on record.
With substantial rainfall late last year, and favourable growing conditions across most of Australia’s cotton-growing regions, the national crop is expected to reach around 5.2 million bales.
In Central Queensland, Nutrien Emerald Branch Manager and Agronomist Darren Young said the season has been challenging, but irrigated cotton crops are looking promising.
“Our planting season starts in early spring, meaning many crops are usually harvested from late January – but this year, we received significant rainfall in November which really pushed back our cotton.”
Approximately 17,5000 hectares of irrigated cotton and 12,000 hectares of dryland cotton has been planted across the Central Highlands region.
“Some early planted crops have already been harvested, yielding around 11-12 bales per hectare, but the bulk of our irrigated cotton won’t be picked until April or May,” he said.
“These crops are looking excellent; we’re expecting yields of around 13-14 bales per hectare.”
Jamie Innes, Nutrien Senior Agronomist at Pittsworth on Queensland’s Darling Downs says the region’s total cotton area this season was approximately 55,000 hectares.
“Overall, the cotton crops look very good at this stage, with dryland crops in particular looking to be well above average – but we still have a long way to go.”
“We suffered some flooding in November, which impacted the establishment of later planted cotton crops, with some requiring replanting. The cooler conditions have also delayed crop maturity but with manageable pest conditions, it’s overall been a strong season for growers across the Downs,” said Jamie.
“Over the last few weeks, we’ve been impacted by more flooding events which means crops are at a greater risk of diseases. The upside is that we have full dams and moisture profiles which gives us certainty of another good cotton area for the coming season.”
In the Macquarie Valley of NSW, Nutrien Warren Branch Manager Jeff Noonan says the region’s 33,000 hectares of cotton suffered a similar start to the season, with wet and cold conditions.
“From early December, crops have drastically improved with warmer and sunnier days and very little insect activity. We’re expected yields from approximately 12-14 bales per hectare for irrigated crops and 1-2 bales per hectare for dryland cotton.”
According to ABARES, the value of Australian cotton production is predicted to soar to a record high of $4.3b, an increase of 157 percent, as international freight disruptions drive cotton prices up. As forecast in their latest report, the 2021-22 season is set to bring in 1.158kg of cotton lint – 49 percent larger than the ten-year average.
“Globally, cotton prices surged in 2021 with demand rebounding from the Covid induced low seen in March 2020,” explains Olivia Agar, Mecardo’s Business Development Manager.
“The Cotlook A index in AUD terms started 2022 at levels not far from the phenomenal year of record prices in 2011. Almost all apparel fibre prices increased in 2021, however cotton has been leading the way, trading at decades high.”