This year's cotton season is coming to a close, with picking sitting at about 80 per cent finished. Yields are averaging 11.1 bales/ha, just shy of last year's record yields.
THE COTTON season is nearing the end, with picking finishing off across the state.
Fortunately, Australian growers have something to smile about with good yields being reported across the valleys.
This year’s cotton crop is expected to produce a whopping 2.4 million bales, with a total crop value of $1.3 billion predicted.
Cotton Australia Chief Executive Officer, Adam Kay, said yields were looking promising, although they wouldnΆt hit the record highs of last year.
Mr Kay said it was looking like this yearΆs crop would average about 11.1 bales/ha, just shy of last yearΆs 11.5 bales/ha.
Dryalnd crops had also been producing promising yields, despite a lot of growers running into hot, dry conditions towards the end of the season.
Cotton Australia told The Land dryland crops were averaging about four bales/ha, despite limited in crop rain.
Despite the slightly lower yields compared to last year, Mr Kay said AustraliaΆs cotton crop still had the highest yields globally.
Picking in NSW is sitting at about 80 per cent finished, with most of the valleys nearing the end.
The Macintyre valley is sitting on 85 per cent picked, as is the Goondiwindi region.
Picking in the Gwydir is at 95 per cent and the lower Namoi, including Narrabri and Wee Waa are at 90 per cent.
Both the Macquarie Valley and upper Namoi are at 80 per cent picked and the southern areas, including the Lockwood and Murrumbidgee valleys are at 60 per cent.
With widespread rain across the state, some growers were forced to turn off their pickers and wait until paddocks dried.
Mr Kay said putting a temporary stop to picking was an inconvenience, the rain dried off quickly and there were no real quality issues caused by the falls.
Current cotton prices are lower than what they were earlier in the season, sitting at about $450/bale.
Mr Kay said this was a fairly significant drop to what they were six months ago when prices were at $520/bale.
Mr Kay said some growers would be selling a balance of their crop now, depending on how much they forward sold earlier in the season.
