Local cotton growers miss out

DARLING Downs Cotton Growers Association president Stuart Armitage is worried Darling Downs cotton growers won't be able to reap the benefit of a predicted cotton price bonanza this year.

The price of cotton in America has reached an 140-year high, with Australia predicted to introduce a similar record-high price this year.

Mr Armitage said this was great news for cotton growers around Australia, but would not help the flood-ravished cotton farms on the Darling Downs.

“The floods have destroyed around 60 per cent of our cotton crop,” Mr Armitage said.

“Some farmers have lost everything and I wouldn't think there would be many with their crop still intact.

“The losses are just far too great to take advantage of high cotton prices.”

Mr Armitage said it had been a dark time for cotton growers caught up in the heavy rain and flooding.

“Most cotton growers would have sustained around $500,000 to $1 million worth of damage,” he said.

“In the best case scenario, some farmers might have managed to rescue 70 per cent of their crop.”

Mr Armitage said it wasn't all bad news, as many farmers at Dirranbandi, St George and Goondiwindi missed the worst of the rains.

“Honestly, if all that rain was spread out over the last four months instead of coming all at once, we would have had a fantastic season,” he said.

“At least the hot weather we've had lately has been excellent at helping the cotton get over the drenching.”

Mr Armitage said most cotton growers in the Darling Downs would be anywhere from four to six weeks behind schedule.

(Source: http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2011/01/31/toowoomba-cotton-local-growers-miss-out/)