AUSTRALIA - Clear skies and dry warm weather has seen the delayed cotton picking season kick off again around Central Queensland.

Cotton Australia estimates around 50% of the crop around Emerald was harvested before wet weather brought picking to a halt last week. Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay says the continued overcast conditions and prolonged rain since January is likely to have an adverse impact on the crop.

“As a consequence of what has turned out to be a very average year weather wise, the yield from those crops already taken off could only share that description as average,” he says.

Further south at Theodore the same story of weather delays has seen picking resume with renewed hopes of a successful harvest following two years of devastating flooding for some cotton growers.
Around St George about 20% of the crop has been picked with the majority of harvesting operations likely to kick off in the week after Easter. Into NSW while a small number of cotton growers have started picking around Moree, the earliest serious picking is still a fortnight away.

Mr Kay says this is the business end of the year for the cotton industry and there will be a lot of activity and heavy vehicle movements on rural roads during picking time.

“We really appreciate the tolerance and understanding of our fellow road users as we safely move our
vital picking equipment from farm to farm," Kay says. "If you are wearing a cotton shirt or jeans you can thank that cotton picker ahead of you.”