In recent years there have been a few cotton crops planted on the eastern Darling Downs and even though some may have shown promise, growers apparently have never seen enough benefit to warrant a further planting of a crop in subsequent seasons.

Such cotton crops have been planted at Nobby, Cambooya and Ryeford. The latest crop in the eastern region is at Felton.

In the rich, fertile Felton Valley soil, this particular crop is looking remarkably good at present.

A local farmer, who preferred to remain anonymous, has put in 135 acres of cotton between Hodgson Creek and the Toowoomba-Karara Road, flanked by the Pittsworth Felton road on the southern side of the property.

This is a dryland crop but seems to be thriving after the substantial rains of earlier in the year.

According to Cotton Australia the crop can be grown as either dryland or irrigated, but it requires long periods of heat and humidity.

Dryland cotton needs full soil moisture profile at the start of the growing season and rainfall during the summer months.

Irrigated cotton needs a reliable water supply. This would mean irrigation from a river or subterranean sources.

It will be interesting to see what type of yield comes from the Felton crop and whether the costs of producing the cotton and transporting it to the gin for processing will prove to be worthwhile.

Annually, the cotton industry in Queensland has a gross value of production totalling $3.5 billion.

The main growing areas are to the west, around Inglewood, Goondiwindi, Dalby through to Millmerran and in the Balonne Shire based on St. George.

In comparison, the annual value of sorghum produced in Queensland is $1.85 billion while pig products yield $1.32 billion and milk $748 million.

The largest primary industry category in terms of value is cattle and calves, which are worth $19.4 billion to the Queensland economy each year.

This article appeared in Allora Advertiser, 23 April 2025.