Alice Downs Farms' Tim Leifels and Kate Ledingham, of 'Alice Downs' Moree, and Fairfield Farming Co's Tom and Charm Arnott, of 'Fairfield' and 'Tambalaka' Boggabilla, have been named as two of the three finalists in the major Bayer Grower of the Year award, while Moree's Murray Connor from Australian Food and Fibre is up for the ADAMA Chris Lehmann Trust Young Cotton Achiever of the Year.

The 2019 Australian Cotton Industry Awards recognise the industry's best and brightest and includes growers, researchers and industry members from across the country.

Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay said each finalist has been recognised for the significant contribution they have made to a wide range of areas, including best practice farming, research and development, innovation and industry advocacy.

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"The 2019 finalists are excellent role models and advocates for our world-leading agricultural industry," he said.

"They continue to work for a brighter future for all in our sector through leadership, education, and research and development.

"The annual awards program is an important opportunity to recognise the hardworking, innovative and dedicated members of our cotton industry."

Mr Kay says the Australian cotton industry has demonstrated how resilient it is during what has been a tough season.

"The cotton industry is not immune to this devastating drought," he said.

"Despite this season's challenges, our industry continues to operate at a very high standard."

The awards judging panel has travelled to the finalists' originating regions to meet and assess each of the candidates.

Cash prizes are on offer for the winners across all categories, with an additional research bursary for Researcher of the Year.

The recipients for the 2019 Australian Cotton Industry Awards will be announced at a gala event to be held at Griffith on July 24 in conjunction with the Cotton Collective.

For more information on the awards visit: http://www.australiancottonawards.com/

Tim Leifels has been farming cotton for the Ledinghams of 'Alice Downs', east of Moree, for 13 years. He is an accomplished farm manager with an eye on the future.

Driving sustainable farming practices to optimise moisture conservation, soil health and fertility, Tim and Kate have achieved consistent success with all three dryland properties comprising 7,956ha, with 1,803ha under dryland cotton this year.

'Alice Downs' is a Cotton Seed Distributor ambassador and Tim is an enthusiastic long-term trial participant, regularly hosting field days and other industry events on farm.

With a rich Ledingham family history going back three generations, Tim and Kate are committed to continually protecting and enhancing soil health and sustainable farming practices to ensure the success of the farms for generations to come.

Tom and Charm run Fairfield Farming Co Pty Ltd, which comprises of two properties just out of Boggabilla, with a total farm irrigation area of 1,429.9ha and 382ha dryland.

Together they are highly disciplined and committed to a program of continual improvement by measuring and bench-marking every aspect of their farming and business operations. Ensuring their farming practices are efficient and sustainable while achieving an increasingly consistent yield year after year are Tom and Charm's key goals.

Enthusiastic proponents of myBMP, Tom and Charm operate with a clear five year plan in which integrated technology and other systems play a key role in measuring performance and planning for the future. Both are committed participants in field trials, host field days on farm and are active members of their local area-wide management group.

Murray Connor graduated from the University of New England with a double degree in agriculture and business. He spent university breaks working for Australian Food and Fibre (AFF) and now works at AFF fulltime, managing their 2,000ha irrigation farm west of Moree.

Murray has been instrumental in the delivery of the trainee management pathways program that develops AFF's next generation of farm managers.

He has also become a leader in strategic farm management, driving the highest levels of production and efficiencies across the business.

Murray recently undertook the Australian Cotton Leaders course and the Rabobank Executive Development program, both of which further fueled his interest in agronomical resistance, public perception and social license. Last year Murray was awarded the 2018 Gwydir Valley Young Achiever award by the Gwydir Valley Cotton Grower Association.