THE Central Highlands Cotton Growers and Irrigators Association held their annual awards on Friday night, with 120 people attending the social event.
The association recognized cotton growers achievements during the 2019-2020 season in two categories: quality and yield.
Due to the dry weather, the rain grown cotton yield award was a casualty, with no entries for this period.
The highest cotton yield was determined from the number of gin bales and areas from the BAYER Technical user agreement to provide an overall farm average yield.
Taking out the highest yield award was Colorada Cotton, Emerald, who recorded an outstanding average of 17.276 bales/hectare.
The cotton quality award is judged on the characteristics of fiber, colour, strength, length and micronaire looked for in cotton.
The team at Colorada were also awarded the quality award for this period.
Nigel and Beth Burnett, Emerald, accepted the award alongside their Colorada farm manager Dean Thompson.
The Burnett's manage Colorada and the adjoining Langley Downs, which together total 4000 hectares, growing a mix of irrigated and dryland crops.
Mr Burnett said it was great for the central Highland's region seeing these outstanding yields.
"I want to thank our team, Dean, Pete and Jayden from Colorada, you never think that you could achieve a yield like this and it's an outstanding effort from the team," Mr Burnett said.
"We run a southern operation as well and it's a good opportunity to thank all of our team because it's really awesome to have the people who've got on board with Matt and the crew down there too."
Mr Burnett acknowledged the research and development in the cotton industry is "absolutely amazing".
"We would go further to say that the breeding program has just transformed our industry in the last 10 years," he said.
"When you look at these results, how could a cotton plant, possibly be bred to hold on to 17 bales of cotton?
"It's something we should definitely acknowledge and support Research and Development going into the future."
The Burnett's planned to pick their cotton in January but were inundated with 400mm of rain and decided to to grow their cotton on.
"It's a good reflection on what a sweet spot we are in Central Queensland that we've got the opportunity to lengthen seasons to be able to do that," he said.
"A lot of other areas don't have that opportunity and it's something that we should treasure and take full advantage of."
CHCGIA president Aaron Kiely said the Central Highland's Cotton industry continues to adapt and reinvent itself.
"The cotton industry has always been adaptable, resilient and ever changing the local region," Mr Kiely said.
"The Central Highland's Cotton Growers and Irrigators Association is only as successful as the membership and industry makes it.
"A local industry is made better by everyone's contribution by supporting each other, we can showcase this region, educate the future teachers lobby our politicians for positive change.
The Central Highlands Cotton and Irrigators Association was not able to recognize the grower service to industry award, or the Iain Mackay Memorial service to industry award during this period, but look forward to recognizing and celebrating these awards in August 2021.
Cotton Awards Highlights
Highest Quality 2019/20 season
- First place awarded to Nigel and Beth Burnett at Colarada Cotton, Emerald.
- Second place awarded to Darryl and Gayle Mosley at Mosley Farming, Emerald.
- Third place awarded to Graham, Josie and Ollie Volck at Garden Creek, Emerald.
Highest Average Cotton Yield 2019/20 season
- First place with 17.276 bales per/ha awarded to Nigel and Beth Burnett at Colarada Cotton, Emerald.
- Second place with 14.941 bales per/ha awarded to Luke and Sarah Hargreaves, Emerald.
- Third place with 14.846 bales per/ha awarded to Robert and Danni Ingram at Avondale Farming, Emerald
Take a look at who caught the camera's lens on the night
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