Australian Cotton Collective
and Trade Show
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Welcome to the 2023 Cotton Trade Show

Cotton Australia, along with other industry partners and The Australian Cottongrower magazine, is delighted to announce the 2023 Cotton Collective will be held in Toowoomba on August 1 to 3.

Best described as “Mini Cotton Conference” the program will feature many of the activities that make the Australian Cotton Conference such an awesome event but packed into a more compact timeframe. The most recent Cotton Collective was held in Griffith in 2019, while there was an understandable break in 2021. But now it is back, bigger than ever and in Queensland for the first time.

The feature event will be the Cotton Collective Conference and Trade Show on August 2 & 3 which will be held at the Toowoomba Showgrounds, utilising the Glenvale Room and the huge undercover Founders pavilion.

The pavilion will be packed with the latest in Agtech and services for our industry, while the conference program will have something for everyone. There will also be sessions on spraydrift management, irrigation automation, attracting and retaining staff, cotton diseases, sustainability and the always popular new technology session.

2023 Gold Sponsors

  • bayer Bayer
  • elders Elders
  • growthag Growth Ag
  • hitachi Hitachi Construction Machinery
  • n-drip N-Drip
  • tama Tama

Silver Sponsors

  • agririsk
  • bale-runner
  • boss-ag
  • excel
  • ldc
  • lowes-petroleum
  • namoi-cotton
  • valley

Partner Sponsors

  • Adama
  • Cotton Australia
  • Rabobank
data-id='71a' class='site taken' data-exhibitor='118' /> data-id='71b' class='site taken' data-exhibitor='119' /> 82 81 80 79 78 77 76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65 64 63 62 61c 61b 61a 61 60 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 data-id='71a' class='sitebox taken' data-exhibitor='118' /> data-id='71b' class='sitebox taken' data-exhibitor='119' />
  • Achmea Farm Insurance69
  • Acumentis 38
  • Adama53
  • ADM Trading Australia74
  • AGCO5
  • AgLeader63
  • Agri Labour Australia & Agri Talent49
  • Agrichem47
  • Agricore71
  • AgriRisk a Gallagher Company 60
  • Atlas Copco52
  • Bale Runner81, 82
  • Bayer75
  • Big Tyre7
  • Biological Services39
  • BMO Accountants51
  • Boss Ag79
  • Bugs 4 Bugs36
  • Ceres Imaging19
  • Cherokee Fabrication37
  • Corteva Agriscience50
  • Cotton Australia18
  • CRDC22
  • Croplands48
  • CropX Technologies31
  • CSD45
  • DieselGas Moree70
  • DrumMUSTER4
  • ECOM Commodities24
  • Elders1
  • Elevation AI61
  • Enervest44
  • Engage Ag64
  • Example
  • EXCEL - GYRAL58
  • FarmConnect33
  • Franklin Electric13
  • Goanna Ag61c
  • Greenmount Travel46
  • Growth Ag2
  • Hitachi Construction Machinery57, 78
  • Impact Fertilisers54
  • Imtrade CropScience73
  • INCYT Agriculture71b
  • Insignia8
  • Koch Fertiliser Australia15
  • LDC
  • Lindsay International ANZ29
  • Love Thy Farmer6
  • Lowes bp56
  • Lummus Ag Technology 20
  • N-Drip59, 80
  • Namoi Cotton77
  • Nutrien16
  • Outback Guidance10
  • Padman Group65
  • Parabug Australia28
  • PCT Agcloud32
  • Porosity72
  • Precision Seeding Solutions14
  • Proagrica11
  • Proven Energy41
  • Qld Cotton42
  • Queensland Farmers' Federation 25
  • Rabobank17
  • Raw Cotton Australia23
  • Rodney Industries30
  • Safework NSW26
  • Sammuel Strapping21
  • Scania Australia9
  • SierraTek Global Pty Ltd71a
  • Sprockets Australia43
  • Stag Machinery Group - CASE IH67
  • Stoller35
  • Sumitomo3
  • Syngenta40
  • T3RRA34
  • Tama76
  • The Crop Capsules Company55
  • Tilco62
  • Tractor Tales Signing Booth
  • Valley66
  • Volvo Penta68
  • White Cotton61a, 61b
  • WMC Solutions Australia Pty Ltd12
  • Workplace Health and Safety Queensland27

Trade Show Attractions

Shane Webcke

Growing up just around the corner in Clifton, Shane Webcke is no stranger to the Darling Downs, or to farming. After 26 tests for Australia, 24 Queensland jerseys and 12 seasons in the top tier of the country’s Rugby League competition, he turned his attention to farming, family, business, writing and guest speaking. Shane will be a key note speaker at this year’s Cotton Collective, and will also be appearing at the Thursday lunch break to help draw our major raffle prize.

Golfing with Growth Ag

Packing the clubs isn’t something that would feature high on the list when preparing for a trip to Toowoomba in August. Thanks to Growth Ag however, you’ll be able to work on the short game at their exclusive GolfSim site in the Founders Pavilion this year. And while there’s not enough time for a round of skins, you can have a crack at their ‘100m for $100’ competition, and also score a branded Dometic Esky if your short game puts you closest to the pin.

Linda Capewell

During the lunch break on both Wednesday and Thursday the Cotton Trade Show is proud to present Linda Capewell, a local singer with roots in Outback Queensland, for your aural entertainment. Growing up on sheep & cattle stations, she tuned her ear to Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks and Debbie Harry and was on the B&S Ball Circuit from age 17. Linda plays at venues all over South East Queensland, and has recently picked up a contract performing on Cruise Ships all over the world.

view website for more.

Cotton Collective

August 1 - Tuesday Timetable

TIME SESSION
9.15 - 4.30pm bus Darling Downs District Bus Tour
6.30 - 8.00pm Welcome Drinks The Rock – 520-526 Ruthven Street

August 2 - Wednesday Timetable

TIME SESSION
7.30 - 9.00am Registration – tea and coffee on arrival
8.55am Trade Hall Open
8.00 - 9.00am Cotton Australia AGM – To be held in the Committee Room
9.00 - 9.05am Official Session – Official Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country
Nigel Burnett – Cotton Australia Chair
9.05 - 9.30am What’s next for Australian Cotton – Market and Drivers
Beau Stephenson, Senior VP, Omnicotton (USA)
9.30 - 10.00am Carbon & Cotton Farming
Prof Richard Eckard – University of Melbourne
10.00 - 10.45am food MORNING TEA – In the Founders Pavilion
10.30am Wincott AGM – The Committee Room – Women from all aspects of the cotton industry are invited to attend and get involved with the organisation.
10.45 - 12.15pm Future Proofing Our Supply Chains
Session Chair – Brooke Summers
10.45 - 11.00am – “Why Social and Environmental Sustainability Matters for the Australian Cotton Industry in 2023 and Beyond” – Brooke Summers
11.00 - 11.15am – The Need for Supply Chain Traceability and Transparency – Shannon Mercer – CEO, Fibretrace
11.15 - 11.25am – Marketing Our Cotton – Adam Kay – CEO, Cotton Australia
11.25 - 11.35am – Why Human Rights Matter for Cotton – Arthur Spellson – Director Cotton Australia and Australian Cotton Shippers Association.
11.35 - 11.45am – Certified Cotton from Australia – The Future of myBMP – Nigel Burnett – Chair, Cotton Australia
11.45 - 11.55am – Reporting Impact with Data – Dr Meredith Conaty – Innovation Broker, CRDC
11.55 - 12.05pm – Panel Discussion – “How will these issues play out at farm level?” – Brooke Summers
12.05 - 12.15pm – “Are You Bogged Mate” – Mary O’Brien
12.15 - 1.45pm food LUNCH – In the Founders Pavilion
1.45 - 3.00pm On The Farm Session – Session Chair – Liz Stott
1.45 - 2.05pm – Panel Session – Attracting/Retaining Staff
Nicole McDonald, Chantal Masters, Daniel Kahl and Steve McVeigh
2.05 - 2.25pm – Automated Irrigation – Prof Joe Foley (USQ) & Andrew Greste
2.25 - 2.45pm – Diseases in the Field – Dr Linda Smith, Principal Plant Pathologist, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries & Amanda Thomas, Regional Extension Officer, CottonInfo.
2.45 - 3.00pm – Industrial Relations – Top Questions I am asked – Wayne Schwalbach, Employment Mediation Services, Tamworth
3.00 - 3.45pm food AFTERNOON TEA
3.45 - 5.00pm Research Pipeline Session – Session Chair – TBA
3.45 - 4.15pm – Spraydrift and Innovation – Susan Maas, CRDC, Tom Holcombe, Swarmbot, Alicia Garden, Goanna Ag & LX Design
4.15 - 4.45pm – Brazil through Scientist eyes – lessons for the north – Dr Warwick Stiller, Dr Paul Grundy, Andrew Parkes and Bruce Connolly
4.45 - 5.00pm – Richard Williams Commercial Research priorities / current focus – Dr Mike Bange, CSD
5.00pm Session Close
6.30pm award National Cotton Awards Dinner
address Armitage Centre – Empire Theatre, Neil Street Toowoomba

August 3 - Thursday Timetable

TIME SESSION
8.30 - 9.00am Registration – tea and coffee on arrival
8.55am Trade Hall Open
9.00 - 9.45am New Products and Technologies Session
Session Chair – David Dowling, The Australian Cottongrower Magazine
9.00 - 9.07am – Cotton Disease Testing using DNA – Rob Long, Crown Analytical
9.07 - 9.14am – N-Drip Connect™ - a Decision Support System designed to effectively manage and optimise irrigation, nitrogen levels, and overall plant health – Udi David Stern, N-Drip
9.14 - 9.21am – Crop health, variable rate application & autonomous technologies – Anthony Dolijanin, ElevationAI
9.21 - 9.28am – Unlocking the Benefits of a Renewable Energy Future – Felicity Wall, Enervest
9.28 - 9.35am – The Power of Peptides - Verticillium Wilt management – Nick Watts, Innovate Ag
9.35 - 9.45am – The XtendFlex® Cotton System – weed control and stewardship – Matt Hayes, Bayer – Bayer
9.45 - 10.15am – Getting the Most out of your Cotton Ginning – Ben Suttor & Rene van der Sluijs – Australian Cotton Ginners Association
10.15 - 11.00am food MORNING TEA – In the Founders Pavilion
11.00 - 1.00pm Closing Session
Session Chair – Adam Kay – CEO, Cotton Australia
11.00 - 11.10pm – “Our Industry – Our Future” – Jess Strauch / Jamie Deshon
11.10 - 11.40pm – “What’s on Australia’s Agricultural Horizon” – Tony Mahar – CEO, National Farmers Federation
11.40 - 12.00pm – “Australia’s first Textile Recovery Technology: Why we need to give a Sheet” – Graham Ross – Founder, BlockTexx
12.00 - 12.55pm – “Coming Home Safe” –Shane Webcke
12.55 - 1.00pmClosing Remarks – Adam Kay – CEO, Cotton Australia
1.00 - 2.00pm food LUNCH – In the Founders Pavilion (Raffle Draw & Charity Auction)
2.00 - 4.00pm Master Cotton Picker Class – Ross Munro – A great opportunity for an interactive discussion on getting the most out of your picker. Ideal for owners, contractors and their operators.

Cotton Collective Events

Welcome Reception

August 1

Namoi Cotton will sponsor a welcome drinks reception at The Rock, a fabulous entertainment venue in Ruthven Street. The cost of the welcome reception is $25 and any funds left over will go to the nominated Cotton Collective charity, Are You Bogged Mate?.

Cotton Bus Tour

August 1

The Collective will start off on Tuesday, August 1 with a cotton tour focusing on Agtech in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs which is now a major area for cotton research and extension and a centre for manufacture and distribution of innovative agricultural technology.

The tour will start at Toowoomba Tafe college to look at vertical farming using Grow Pods and the John Deere training and the engineering and apprentice workshop. Speaker Mark Germishuy will cover risk management, data science and artificial intelligence, applied particularly to agribusinesses.

The TAFE hospitality students will provide the catering for lunch.

In the afternoon, the tour will move to the University of Southern Queensland which is a vital hub for innovative cotton research and a global leader in ag technology. Topics covered will include:

  • Autonomous surface irrigation – sensors and systems;
  • Evaporation mitigation;
  • Whitefly app development;
  • Hypersonics and rocketry;
  • Automated nitrogen delivery; and,
  • Airbus flight simulator & aviation study program.

Australian Cotton Awards Dinner

August 2

On the Wednesday night, the industry will gather at the Empire Theatre Complex for the 2023 Australian Cotton Industry Awards. This is the event of the year for the cotton industry and will almost certainly be a sellout, so make sure you get your tickets early. The heritage listed art deco Empire Theatre was built in 1911 and is worth a visit by itself.

Event Contact

Michael Cook – Trade Show Coordinator

Phone: 0428 794 801

Email: michael@greenmountpress.com.au

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