Due to ongoing drought there has been a decline in both investment dollars and human resources in this cotton growing area. Also a number of the extension officer's positions had been vacant throughout many of the cotton valleys for a period of time. This had impacted on the Cotton CRC's ability to extend new research from the scientific community to the industry's growers.To overcome this issue, an alternative approach to ensuring growers were being informed of the latest research and best management practices was developed; the extension model. As such, project 5.01.23con was initiated, employing the services of an independent consultant in the Lower Balonne region (St George, Dirranbandi & Thallon) on a part time basis to extend new research and outcomes to growers in this area. In project 5.01.23con, this independent consultant, Dallas King (via Balonne Agricultural Consultancy) was contracted for two years to provide this service to the Lower Balonne region.The CRC traditionally used an alternative model of extension officers for this role this new model (part time and in based in the local area) has proved to have better retention which has enhanced sustainability of the position for the CRC (as detailed in previous project reports).