Increased pressures are being placed on irrigators in Australia to maximise their water use efficiency. This has in turn highlighted the need for more focused research and extension on water management.

In the Ord River irrigation Area (ORIA) INGARD' cotton varieties have been grown utilising novel integrated pest management systems (Strickland et al 2003).

With increasing adoption of IPM practices in cotton, green vegetable bugs (GVB) have emerged as important sucking pests causing considerable damage to growing bons (Khan and Bauer 2001, 2002).

Soil health has been defined as &quote; the capacity of soil to function as a vital living system, within ecosystem and land-use boundaries, to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusaritim oxysporum f. sp. Vasinfectum (Fov), is a devastating disease in many cotton-producing countries of the world.

Determining the impact of species considered potentially important natural enemies of crop pests is crucial for making robust management decisions as part of an IPM programme (Ives 1980; Johnson et al.

Temperature plays many important roles in the growth and development of cotton.

Many beneficial arthropods exhibit life-history omnivory (Polis & Strong 1996), in that they include honeydew, floral nectar, extra-floral nectar and/or pollen in their immature or adult diet (Hagen 1986; Coll

Cold shock at temperatures below 11C was previously believed to delay cotton development. This paper tested whether exposure to 10C for 10 and 20 nights affected tissue viability.

There appears to have been a change in the importance of pests presenting cotton over the last decade. This has involved former secondary pests, such as aphids, A. gossypii, minds, Creontiodes spp.

Fusarium wilt is an economically important disease of cotton in Australia. Disease occurs at the intersection of pathogen, plant, and environment (Figure I).

There is increasing interest in utilising Trichogramma egg parasitoids against helothis(Helicoverpa spp. ) in cotton, and crops that may act as sources of parasitoids for cotton -such as sorghum.

The Australian Cotton Industry has enjoyed a reputation as a reliable supplier of high quality cotton. This reputation is underpinned by a progressive, effective and responsible industry.

Resistance in the cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) is a major new threat to Australian cotton production (Herron et al. 2001).

Trichogramma pretiosum is a key natural enemy of heliothis (Helicoverpa spp. ) on the Darling Downs. The data presented here describe some of the biological parameters of T.

Biotechnology has been practiced in agriculture for millennia, including through traditional selection for pest resistant crop varieties.

Groundwater, under the right conditions can be of benefit to plants. For example, cotton can derive substantial water from groundwater at depths of around 2.6m (Wanender et al 1979).

The results of annual disease surveys continue to indicate the importance of soil-borne plant pathogens. Seedling diseases are controlled by the use of fungicide seed treatments.

It has been ten long years since the CoAG reform agreement was first formalised between the state and federal governments.

Airborne volatiles emitted by flowers and other vegetative plant parts that attract insects for feeding and egg-laying could be useful in pest management.