CottonInfo appoint boots on the ground for the first time in Kununurra for the North West and NT regions

The first regional extension officer for the northern Australia cotton industry has been appointed in Kununurra, with the role designed to connect growers to the latest cotton information, research and events. Nicole Bell has taken up the role for CottonInfo and started work this week. The work involves supporting growers in WA and NT, visiting farmers, hosting field days and helping encourage the adoption of best practice. Ms Bell started her work in cotton at the Australian Cotton Research Institute in NSW where she focused on entomology and integrated pest management. Since 2021, she has held technical and field‑based roles in Kununurra with the Ord River District Cooperative and the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, including designing and running mixed cropping trials. CottonInfo has had eight extension oficers based across the NSW and Qld cotton growing valleys and Ms Bell joins them as the ninth, and the first for northern Australia. Ms Bell said she would be spending time on the farm with growers and consultants on a regular basis to build rapport and connect farmers with the latest cotton information, events and research. “It’s important for the northern cotton industry that CottonInfo now has boots on the ground to provide timely support to improve cotton production,” she said. “Along with farm visits, I will be running various cotton workshops, field days and on-farm trials — an important part of my role is to identify research and extension needs and create opportunities to support their issues efficiently.” Ms Bell said she had a good understanding of the strength of the region, as well as its challenges, key among them being the wet season. “The cotton growing season starts in January, unlike the rest of the southern industry where planting starts in October, so information needs to be tailored specifically to the north,” she said. “The wet season comes with various challenges such as access to fields, ability to carry out in-field operations at optimal time periods and increased early vegetative growth, insect resistance, insect species and disease endemic to northern Australia.” CottonInfo program manager Janelle Montgomery said Ms Bell’s impressive depth of experience across entomology, agronomy, breeding, pathology and soils, combined with a strong professional network, positions her well to support growers and advisers across the region. CottonInfo is the Australian cotton industry’s extension program, a partnership formed in 2012 between the Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Cotton Australia and Cotton Seed Distributors to support the industry.