The excellence, achievements and resilience of the Australian cotton industry over the past year was recognised at the 2019 Australian Cotton Industry Awards held in Griffith last week. The awards were run in conjunction with the Cotton Collective, from July 23-24, with a strong turnout of southern growers.
The awards night was its usual festive self while highlighting industry achievers such as Tom and Charm Arnott from Boggabilla in NSW, who received the Bayer Grower of the Year award, recognising their efficient and effective farm management practices at their properties.
Australian Food and Fibre’s Moree farm manager, Murray Connor, was recognised for his commitment to innovation and passion for the cotton industry by receiving the ADAMA Chris Lehmann Trust Young Cotton Achiever of the Year award.
One Tree Agriculture farm managers Jamie Traill and Ashley Tunks, of Warra in Queensland, were awarded the AgriRisk High Achiever of the Year award.
The Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd Researcher of the Year award was presented to Dr Linda Smith from the QDAF for cotton pathology research.
The IPF Service to Industry award was presented to one of the industry’s longest serving regionally-based cotton extension officers, Kieran O’Keeffe who is based in Griffith and represents the southern region.
