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Welcome to the November 2021 edition of CRDC under the microscope - CRDC's e-news for cotton researchers.

Update: 2022-23 investment round

Thank you to all the researchers who submitted a Full Research Proposal (FRP) in response to our Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the 2022-34 investment round. Over 50 FRPs were received. They are now being reviewed by the CRDC team, and will then go to the Cotton Australia research advisory panels for review.

Recommendations will be made to the CRDC Board in early 2022 as to which FRPs should proceed, with the Board to determine the successful applicants in April. The successful projects will commence in July.

Reminder: Apply now for PhD top-up scholarships!

A reminder that applications are now open for CRDC's top up PhD scholarships of up to $10,000 per annum. Those applying must expect to receive a Research Training Program (or equivalent) scholarship commencing in 2021-22.

For more information or to apply, click here. Applications close 5pm, Friday 12 November.

November progress reports due

For our CRDC-supported research partners: November progress reports are due 5pm, Tuesday 30 November.

If you are unable to submit your report by this deadline, please submit an Extension Request Form, found on the CRDC website, on Clarity (under knowledge store) or by contacting the CRDC project admin team.

Central QLD research published in international journal

Researchers Paul Grundy (pictured), Gail Spargo and Kerry Bell of the Qld Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Stephen Yeates of CSIRO have had their CRDC-supported research into changing the Central QLD season to reduce climate risk published in the journal Field Crops Research.

This R&D project was very impactful for cotton growers in Central QLD: helping them overcome climate challenges by changing their cotton season. The project resulted in yield increases of 40 per cent, with the project's benefit-cost ratio calculated at 17.1 - a $17.10 benefit to growers for every $1 invested.

For a limited time, the Field Crops Research article is freely available here. A summary of the research and its impacts can also be read in the Autumn 2017 edition of CRDC's Spotlight magazine. Congratulations, team!

Alison's research recognised with international award

Congratulations also to Dr Alison McCarthy of the University of Southern Queensland for being awarded the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) Irrigation Young Professionals WatSave Award (2021) for her work on VARIwise.

The VARIwise technology combines in-season cotton crop imagery (collected from drones or in-field cameras) with crop production models to provide yield predictions for cotton growers throughout the season.

Alison's research is being conducted as a part of the Smarter Irrigation for Profit Phase 2 project, led by CRDC and supported by funding from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment as part of its Rural R&D for Profit program. For more on Alison's research, see page 7 of our Autumn 2021 Spotlight magazine.

Cotton research on twitter: top tweets from our tweeps!

We love to see researchers, growers and partners in the cotton industry tag us on twitter, so we can join in the conversation and share the insights, queries, achievements and work. Tag us at @CottonResearch (and our friends at CottonInfo at @CottonInfoAust) and we can further share your work, event or research. Here are some recent tweets from our researchers and research partners:

2022-23 investment decision: key dates

November-December 2021 - Cotton Australia panels review FRPs
March 2022 - Recommendations made to CRDC Board
April 2022 - CRDC Board decision
April 2022 - Preliminary advice given to applicant
May 2022 - Approval of Parliamentary Budget Statement by Minister
May-June 2022 - Final advice to applicant; contracts sent
1 July 2022 - Commencement of research contract and funding support (contract will outline deadlines for progress reports and final reports)