CSD agronomist Robert Eveleigh introduced Sicot 71BRF, Sicot 71RRF and Siokra V-18BRF recently.

Mr Eveleigh said Sicot 71BRF, which contains Bollgard II and Roundup Ready Flex technologies, will be one of the highest yielding varieties ever to be released by CSD and will probably be the most predominant Australian cotton variety for several seasons.

"From CSIRO data it’s about 3pc higher yielding than is the popular Sicot 71BR and with improved fibre quality," he said.

"It's got lower micronaire, about 0.3 micronaire points lower, and better fibre length by about one length grade.

"It's highly adaptable - its fit is where people are currently growing Sicot 71BR.

"It can be grown pretty much anywhere from the northern areas around Emerald to the southern areas around Hillston, although you need to remember it is a full-season variety and in the short-season areas it needs to be managed accordingly."

Sicot 71RRF is the Roundup Ready Flex version of the most popular current Roundup Ready variety, the high yielding Sicot 71RR.

"Almost all of its attributes are the same - similar yield and similar fibre quality," Mr Eveleigh said.

Siokra V-18BRF is the first okra-leaf variety with Bollgard II and Roundup Ready Flex technology and is ideally suited to the cooler growing regions.

"In the eastern sites where we trialled it this year, east of Narrabri, Boggabri and the Darling Downs, it did very well, yielding six per-cent higher than Sicala 60BRF," he said.

"The okra leaf also has pest management advantages, being less attractive to mites and whitefly."

The Sicot 71BRF and Sicot 71RRF are in limited quantities this season and have been balloted through CSD's membership.

CSD General Manager Steve Ainsworth said the members’ ballot system, currently in its fifth season, is the most fair and reasonable way of giving members the opportunity to look at the latest generation of varieties.

This year will the last one where growers can purchase varieties with Roundup Ready technology.

* Extract from the September edition of Australian Cotton Outlook.