Why RD&E?

Why is research, development and extension (RD&E) so important for you as an Australian cotton grower? 

Because it helps you improve your productivity, profitability, practices and performance - in real terms, on your farm.

  • Productivity – Australian cotton yields have increased strongly over the past three decades, driven by better locally-bred varieties and improved farm management, underpinned by the latest RD&E. Australian cotton growers are now growing more cotton on less land and with less impact on the environment than ever before. 
  • Profitability – In the CRDC Cotton Grower Survey, almost 90 percent of growers said that cotton was profitable and consistently their crop of choice. Continuing to improve this profitability is a core focus for CRDC – which is why we continue to invest heavily in work around water management, energy use efficiency and nutrition.
  • Practices – Thanks to the significant contribution of cotton RD&E, Australian cotton growers use 97 per cent less pesticides, 52 per cent less water, and 34 per cent less land to grow one bale of cotton than they did in 1992. That's been achieved through practical improvements on farm, backed by RD&E. 
  • Performance – The result? Australian cotton growers consistently rank among the highest yielding in the world. But performance isn’t just about yield, it’s about growing cotton efficiently, managing risk and staying competitive as conditions change.
 
The bottom line is: RD&E should deliver value back to your farm and your business. CRDC invests across the full production system – from pests and diseases through to water, energy and soils – with a focus on practical outcomes you can use. Growers also have a direct say in where that investment goes. Through direct engagement with CRDC and CottonInfo, and through Cotton Australia’s advisory panels, you help set the priorities to make sure RD&E is focused on the issues that matter most on-farm.
 
For more about what we’re currently investing in, and how it benefits you, visit CRDC Research and Development. 

For more information about improving practices, learning about the latest RD&E outcomes, the important work the industry is doing in sustainability, and using the tools available to you on-farm, click through to myBMP and CottonInfo.