Stewardship is a key focus of the activities undertaken by Cotton Australia. Not only in terms of ensuring the long-term future of the Australian cotton industry but also in terms of ensuring healthy, sustainable agricultural processes that hold the environment and the industry in equal measure.

Prior to introducing the first commercial Bt transgenic cotton in 1995, the Australian Cotton Growers Research Association formed a broadly represented, grower led group called the Transgenic and Insect Management Strategies committee (TIMS committee). This committee was established to oversee the development of the industry’s resistance management strategies for insecticides and transgenic cotton.

The TIMS Committee (see list below) functions as an industry stewardship group, with broad representation from growers, researchers, crop consultants and members of the pulse and grains industries. The agricultural chemical, biotechnology and planting seed companies that provide crop protection tools to Australian cotton growers also approach the TIMS committee for advice on issues associated with developing resistance management plans for new or existing technologies.

The TIMS Committee is empowered with developing regional Insecticide Resistance Management Strategies (IRMS), the Bollgard II Resistance Management Plan (RMP) and Roundup Ready and Liberty Crop Management Plans (CMPs).

TIMS Committee Representation

ROLE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTING AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
Chair Andrew Parkes COTTON AUSTRALIA Independent - from any region
Northern Area Damien Erbacher COTTON AUSTRALIA Biloela, Central Highlands, & Dawson Valley CGA's.
Darling Downs Neville Walton COTTON AUSTRALIA Darling Downs CGA
Western Area Greg Morris COTTON AUSTRALIA Bourke CGA, Dirranbandi CGA, Mungindi WU & CGA, St George CGA
Central North Area Tony Taylor COTTON AUSTRALIA Gwydir Valley CGA, Macintyre Valley CGA, Walgett CGA
Central South Area Andrew Greste COTTON AUSTRALIA Lower Namoi CGA, Upper Namoi CGA
Southern Area Bill Tyrwhitt COTTON AUSTRALIA Lachlan CGA, Macquarie CGA, Tandou
Herbicide Tech Panel Chairman Cleave Rogan COTTON AUSTRALIA Transfer of recommendations to and from Herbicide Tech Panel
Northern CCA David Parlato CCA Central Highlands, Dawson & Callide Valleys plus Darling Downs
Central CCA Rachel Brimblecombe CCA Gwydir, Macintyre, Lower and Upper Namoi Valleys
Southern CCA Campbell Muldoon CCA Macquarie, Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, Tandou
Western CCA Jamie Street CCA St George, Dirranbandi, Mungindi, Walgett and Bourke regions
NSW DPI Robert Mensah NSW DPI Communication to and from NSW DPI
QDEEDI Geoff McIntyre QDEEDI Communication to and from QDEEDI
CSIRO Lewis Wilson CSIRO Communication to and from CSIRO
CRDC Tracey Farrell CRDC Communication to and from CRDC
CRC Gary Fitt CRC Communication to and from CRC
GRDC Dave Murray GRDC Communication to and from GRDC
Pulse Australia Vacant Pulse Australia Communication to and from Pulse Australia

A Guide to the 2010-11 Bollgard Resistance Management Plan will be available by the end of July