Stories: on the farm

Cotton production

Leadership is built from the ground up. That’s why the Cotton LEADSSM program is driven by Australian and U.S. producers, scientists and other professionals dedicated to sustainable cotton production. Get to know the growers and researchers who, season after season, are investigating and implementing solutions that improve cotton’s environmental footprint.

  • Murray Connor

    Moree NSW

    Murray Connor’s involvement in the cotton industry began a decade ago, starting with Australian Food & Fibre (AFF) in 2008 as a casual irrigator, whilst completing a double degree in Agriculture and Business at the University of New England.

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  • Dr. Fred Bourland

    Arkansas, USA

    Dr. Fred Bourland works to improve cotton yield and fiber quality, helping U.S. growers meet increasing market demands.

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  • Bill Robertson

    Arkansas, USA

    Through his field research, Bill Robertson helps growers solve challenges and improve profitability.

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  • Dr. Tina Grey Teague

    Arkansas, USA

    Dr. Teague discusses her focus on using methods of integrative pest management to continuously improve the sustainability of US cotton.

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  • Dr. Sharon Downes

    Narrabri, NSW, Australia

    Dr. Sharon Downes has studied cotton pests for the past 15 years to develop strategies for managing their resistance to biotech cotton.

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  • Emma Ayliffe

    Griffith, NSW, Australia

    Emma is an agronomist, researcher and Young Farming Champion, working in Australia's southern valleys cotton growing region.

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  • Dr. Alice Payne

    Brisbane, Queensland

    Dr. Alice Payne is Senior Lecturer in Fashion in the School of Design, Queensland University of Technology. Her research centers on environmental and social sustainability concerns throughout textile and apparel industry supply chains.

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  • Dr. Robert Mensah

    Narrabri, NSW, Australia

    Award-winning researcher with 30 years' experience in applied entomological research and development of integrated pest management (IPM) tools for use in cotton and other broadacre crops.

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  • Amanda Thomas

    Warren, NSW, Australia

    A cotton grower with a strong focus on integrated pest management (IPM), Amanda is also Cotton Region Extension Officer in the Macquarie Valley. In this role she works towards ground-truthing the latest research to benefits growers in our industry.

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  • Dr. Paxton Payton

    Lubbock, TX, USA

    Dr. Paxton Payton is a plant physiologist who studies the impact of stressors such as drought and temperature on plant growth. He also works to develop crop management tools, which allow growers to maximize their yields with limited inputs.

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  • Alice Devlin and Lou Gall

    Gwydir Valley, NSW, Australia

    Regional Extension teams work closely to translate research findings into information growers can readily use.

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  • Sledge and David Taylor

    Como, MS, USA

    The Taylors paint a picture of stewardship strengthened by precision ag technologies, which allow them to cut down on water, fertilizer and plant protection products.

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