HAVE you ever wondered how the clothes on your back, came to be on your back: how the cotton industry works, from cotton-picking to cotton and seed separation? All those questions and many more were answered at Gwydir Valley Cotton Grower Association’s annual tour, “An Evening of Cotton.”
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“The evening is a casual, relaxed environment where children and adults can learn about cotton production, get a real appreciation of the depth of the industry, and find out how important cotton production is to the whole community,” cotton producer Barbara Glennie of ‘Norwood’ said.
Roughly 32 percent of the cotton in NSW is produced in this region, with irrigated cotton accounting for more than $763 million of the NSW economy.
“Cotton is an innovative industry and producers in the Gwydir Valley are constantly striving to improve the efficiency of production so that the industry remains sustainable into the future,” Gwydir Valley CGA secretary Zara Lowien said.
Beela Farm manager Johno Baxter kicked off the tour, introducing more than 50 locals and visitors to the world of cotton picking.
Planted in October, Johno Baxter explained the farm was perfect for the picking this month, with no cotton going to waste.
“The picking machine will turn out cotton bales that weigh about 230kgs. Any cotton that is left on the plant, will be left to decompose, adding to the carbon levels in the soil and making it an ideal setting for the next cotton farm.”
The tour kicked on at Auscott Gin, where tour-goers learned about the process of separating cotton from the seeds. Once separated, the cotton will go on its own journey through the mercantile industry, while the seeds will be turned into useful by-products such as cotton seed oil.
So, what was the final verdict of the tour?
“This is my second cotton tour,” Hornsby-local Jon Hestelow said. “The first one I did at Goondiwindi, and this time round I’m getting a better idea of how everything works.”
