Australia
December 9, 2024
Australia’s CottonInfo extension program continues to be world-class, connecting industry to research helping growers achieve best-practice cotton production on-farm.
This was just one of the findings of a recent review of the program, conducted to ensure CottonInfo is still fit for purpose for the delivery of industry-good extension after 12 years in operation.
From 1 January 2025, the employment of CottonInfo Regional Extension Officers (REOs) will be managed by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC).
The program will continue to be a partnership of CRDC, Cotton Australia and Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD), with CRDC leading the program and managing the REOs and Technical Leads, Cotton Australia supporting through myBMP, and CSD as an investor.
Three well known and respected REOs (Annabel Twine, Darling Downs; Andrew McKay, Macintyre, St George and Dirranbandi; Kieran O’Keeffe, Southern NSW) will remain with the CottonInfo team.
The highly experienced Emma Chorley (Namoi) and Kim Stevens (Central Qld) will join CSD as Extension and Development Agronomists.
CRDC will now start recruiting for a full complement of REOs, ensuring industry is supported by local, trusted, industry-good CottonInfo extension officers.
CottonInfo Program Lead Dr Janelle Montgomery said she’s excited to lead the team into a new building phase to future proof the program.
"CottonInfo is considered a leader in extension not just in cotton, but in agriculture more broadly, so it's essential that we continue to lead, create impact and strengthen what we deliver to Australian cottongrowers and the industry as a whole," said Janelle.
“We can only do this thanks to the ongoing support of growers, consultants, researchers and our three partner organisations. I’m looking forward to helping guide what the next decade of CottonInfo looks like."
The CottonInfo program and its team of REOs, Technical Leads and myBMP Managers have built a strong reputation as a trusted information source. CottonInfo continues to perform a crucial role in connecting growers with research and helping them to achieve best practice.
CSD CEO Dr Ian Taylor said: “At CSD, we are here to help Australian growers deliver the most desirable and sustainable cotton they can. We are proud of our ongoing support of the CottonInfo program and look forward to, with our partners, tackling grower problems with high-quality on-ground research.”
CRDC Executive Director Allan Williams said: “CottonInfo’s three partners remain committed to the program and the delivery of industry-good extension, based on world-leading CRDC research. Embedding the CottonInfo REOs within CRDC brings the CottonInfo team closer to this research, which in turn brings growers closer too.”
Cotton Australia’s CEO Adam Kay said: “Our growers have always appreciated the knowledge and advice of the CottonInfo team and the industry’s need for ongoing research, innovation and extension. The work of the REO’s is an important part of the program and having them closer to the research can only enhance the outcomes for growers.”
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