Good rain and hot weather sets the tone for cotton

Warmer-than-average temperatures and strong early-season rainfall have set the stage for a promising start to the cotton-growing season.

Good rain, hotter than average weather and decent prices are combining to boost the cotton outlook for this season.

The cotton crop is expected to be slightly bigger than 2023-24 which produce 4.8 million bales, with predictions of about 4.9 million bales for 2024-25.

Cotton Australia general manager Michael Murray said for the southern region it was the best start to the season they have had.

“As you move up to other regions, they have had average or above average starts too,” Mr Murray said.

Mr Murray said prices were tracking at about $600 a bale, which is down from $630 a bale at the same time last year.

“Prices are OK, they aren’t as good as recent years, but it is pretty solid and we do still sell every bale we produce in Australia.”

Farmers plant cotton in southern NSW. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

James Paterson of Hells Gate at Hay in the NSW Riverina said the cotton crop at his place was starting to flower and was in a good position.

“The cotton got out of the ground a lot quicker this year, and the progress has been really good,” he said.

Mr Paterson said for growers who didn’t have their water secured the season could become challenging.

The Murrumbidgee general security water allocation was set at 34 per cent on September 2, and high security was at 95 per cent. In Murray, general security, water was 53 per cent after the announcement on December 16, and high security was 97 per cent.

Water trader Tom Wilks of Wilks Water, Wagga, NSW, anticipated prices for water could increase $10 to $15 a megalitre.

But for now, values range from $100 to $150 a megalitre in the Murrumbidgee.

Mr Wilks said with water at that price it was a good opportunity for cotton growers.

Summit Ag principal partner and agronomist Heath McWhirter, Griffith, NSW, said the hot weather was helping cotton crops in the southern region.

“We’ve had temperatures above the 10-year average so crops are probably about seven days ahead of normal,” Mr McWhirter said.

“We normally see flowers start to appear after Christmas, but it was about a week prior this year, which is good for yield maturity and fibre quality down the track.”

Mr McWhirter said it was all positive, except for issues with black root rot, a soil borne disease found in cotton.

“Even though we had a warm start, some farms are having establishment issues which could reduce yields by 1-3 bales/ha.”