Representatives
Research Committees
Establishment
ACGRA was established as an unincorporated association in 1972 with the aim of raising funds for undertaking cotton-focussed research. The funds were collected by gins on behalf of ACGRA as a voluntary, per bale levy with CSD providing the secretariat services. ACGRA itself undertook the responsibility of deciding which research was to be funded until the establishment of the Cotton Research Committee in 1983, which provided for the matching by the Commonwealth of research contributions by cotton growers. This Commonwealth contribution resulted in responsibility for research funding decisions being passed on by ACGRA to the Cotton Research Committee. This Committee was replaced by the Cotton Research Council in 1986, which in turn was replaced by the Cotton Research & Development Corporation (“CRDC”) in 1990.
Research in the Cotton Industry
Research in the cotton industry is funded by a compulsory levy on cotton growers of $2.25 per bale, which is matched by the Federal Government to a maximum of 0.5 % of the gross value of production. This levy also funds the ACGRA’s membership of Plant Health Australia, a national body that represents and coordinates the interests of nearly all the major plant industries, and the Federal, and State and Territory governments, in the areas of biosecurity and management of exotic pests and diseases.
Membership
Membership of ACGRA is based on organisations (not individuals), and was initially Cotton Seed Distributors, Namoi, Auscott and Queensland Cotton; these organisations are now recognised as Foundation Members. Membership has since expanded to include Cotton Growers Associations, Ginning organisations and cotton seed organisations.
Roles and Responsibilities
These can be broadly divided into two categories—the formal roles and responsibilities ACGRA has as the organisation specifically named in the regulations as the industry body CRDC reports to, and the less formal roles and responsibilities ACGRA and its individual members have to ensure the on-going operation of ACGRA.
The Association and CRDC
Under the legislation, CRDC is required to:
1. report to the Parliament, the Minister and its representative organisations on R&D activities that are
co-ordinated or funded, wholly or partly, by the Corporation;
2. consult, and have regard to the views expressed by ACGRA when drafting its R&D plan;
3. provide a copy of the R&D plan and operational plan prepared by CRDC for the Minister and
4. formally present its annual report to ACGRA, with the opportunity for questions ACGRA is responsible under the legislation to provide to the Minister nominations for the selection committee for the CRDC Board. The CRDC board is selected every three years.
Research Responsibilities
The primary role of ACGRA and its members (via their representatives) is to provide advice to the CRDC on research issues from the perspective of cotton growers. This is achieved by members providing their perspective on the research funding submissions received by CRDC each year. ACGRA representatives are asked to comment on whether the proposed research is relevant to their needs. ACGRA members are expected to canvas the views of their representative organisation, and bring to the meeting any relevant attitudes and opinions expressed by their member organisation.
As more research submissions are made to CRDC than can reasonably be expected to have ACGRA representatives consider properly, representatives are asked to nominate which specific areas of research they are interested in, and they are allocated to the appropriate research committee that deals with that area of research. This research committee then considers the research and/or adoption applications in detail, and report their views to the Association as a whole at the annual research review meeting.
The current research committees are:
1. People and Knowledge (Extension)
2. Integrated Resource Management
3. Crop Protection (Insects, weeds & Diseases)
4. Farming Systems
5. Breeding and Biotechnology
6. Value Chain
As well
as being the organisation formally responsible for liaising with CRDC on
research matters, ACGRA is also responsible for liaising on research
issues generally for the cotton industry, for example with the State
Departments of Agriculture.
Transgenic and Insect Management Strategy Committee (“TIMS”)
TIMS is a sub-committee of ACGRA, and ACGRA provides the chairman, and up to 5 grower members of the committee. TIMS includes representatives from CSIRO, State Departments of Agriculture, the CRDC and Cotton CRC. TIMS is responsible for developing, in close consultation with the relevant scientific experts and technology providers the resistance management strategies for conventional insecticides and transgenic cotton.
The Association and the Cotton Catchment Communities Cooperative Research Centre
ACGRA is a participant in Cotton, Catchment Communities CRC and has both funding and in-kind commitments to the CRC.
The Association currently has 2 projects in the CRC form Australian Government programs:
1. An Australian Government Sustainable Industry Initiatives Program project between ACGRA and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) is currently managed by the Cotton CRC. The project supports the provision of Natural Resource Management technical expertise and resources to growers in the cotton industry through a focus on BMP.
2. ACGRA and the Australian Government Envirofund project to develop a Birds on Cotton Farms guide and workshop series.
ACGRA
purchased 5 units in Narrabri to help with the accommodation of research
students, and visiting scientists during the Australian
Cotton CRC.
General Industry Responsibilities
ACGRA is responsible for organising the biennial Australian Cotton Conference. This major industry forum covers the major issues of industry concern as well as important research developments and innovations and their adoption by industry. A Conference Committee is formed from both interested ACGRA members and representatives from other industry organisations to provide oversight of the conference, and in particular is responsible for drafting the conference program and activities.
ACGRA is a member of the Australian Cotton Industry Council and is represented on its 4 committees.
ACGRA is the cotton industry member of Plant Health Australia.
ACGRA convenes the Transgenic and Insecticide Resistance Strategy Committee (TIMS).
Operations timetable
CRDC operates on standard financial year with its research projects, and therefore normally requires Full Research Proposals to be submitted by the end of January, with funding for successful applications commencing in June of the same year.
ACGRA holds its annual two day meeting to review the Full Research Proposals in March, so that the feedback can then be collated for the CRDC Board meeting in April to consider the funding applications. Representatives meet in committee prior to this meeting (either face-to-face or by teleconference) to discuss the projects within their research program area so that a considered view on the projects can be provided to the full meeting.
The progress of projects being funded by CRDC is also reviewed at this meeting, which provides ACGRA members the opportunity to provided feedback on any specific issues that have arisen with a project.
ACGRA also normally holds the following meetings in addition to the two day research review meeting:
1. A meeting in the middle of the year, when feedback from CRDC is received on which research projects were approved for funding.
2. The Annual General Meeting is generally held in August/September, and is when the Executive positions for the following year are elected. The AGM generally coincides with the annual ‘Farming Systems Forum’ organised by CRDC.
3. A meeting in November/December to consider the CRDC Preliminary Research Proposals. This meeting also is generally the time that CRDC is able to present its Annual Report.
Chairman
The current chairman of ACGRA is Ben Stephens, a farm manager from Narrabri. Ben is one of the representatives of Auscott Ltd. on ACGRA.