Yarns  ·  Field notes from the paddock

Agronomy worth
talking about.

Soil, nitrogen, precision data, and the calls that actually move yield. Independent notes from across the Darling Downs, Western Downs, and Border Rivers — no supplier line to push.

Agronomy

Dryland Cotton on the Western Downs: What a Realistic Yield Target Looks Like in 2026

8 min read

More field notes

aerial view of an irrigated cotton field showing soil-type variability and management zones for variable-rate nitrogen

Precision Agriculture

VRT for Cotton: What the GRDC/SPAA Grains Work Actually Tells Us About Variable-Rate Nitrogen in Irrigated Cotton

What grains-led VRT research actually tells cotton growers about variable-rate nitrogen, the data layers it needs, and when it pays back in…

9 min read
APVMA paraquat label changes 2026: the maximum conventional boom rate is about 1 L/ha for a 250 g/L product, so spot spraying is the answer.

Agronomy

Paraquat Label Changes 2026: What the New APVMA Rates Mean for Your Fallow

The APVMA has cut the conventional boom rate for paraquat to about 1 L/ha. Here is what it means for broadacre fallow…

5 min read
freshly formed cotton planting beds at dawn with a soil thermometer, Darling Downs planting window

Agronomy

When to Plant Cotton in the MacIntyre Valley: Soil Temperature Triggers and the 2026 Window

The MacIntyre cotton planting window is narrower than most growers admit. Here's how soil temperature triggers, BoM forecasts and profile moisture decide…

7 min read
early verticillium wilt symptoms on cotton leaves with interveinal yellowing and browning, Darling Downs

Agronomy

Verticillium Wilt in Irrigated Cotton: Variety Choice, Soil Temperature, and the Things Most Agronomists Miss

Verticillium wilt costs cotton growers across QLD and NSW more than they realise. Variety choice, soil temperature, and bed height decide the…

8 min read
Dawson Ag soil testing rig coring a freshly worked paddock on the Darling Downs for a cotton nitrogen budget

Agronomy

Cotton Nitrogen Budgeting: Why ~47% of Applied N Is Lost and How to Claw It Back

Roughly 47% of nitrogen applied to Australian cotton is lost before the plant uses it. Here is how a proper cotton N…

7 min read
Dawson Ag independent cotton consultants inspecting an irrigated cotton crop in Queensland

Agronomy

How to Choose an Independent Cotton Consultant (and the Three Questions Every Grower Should Ask)

Three questions every cotton grower should ask before hiring a consultant: who pays you, what do you deliver in writing, and where…

7 min read
Integrated precision agriculture data dashboard with soil and NDVI layers

Precision Agriculture

Integrating Precision Data: From Soil Tests to NDVI and EM for Comprehensive Crop Management

Why integration matters

4 min read
Healthy paddock beside a protected waterway in Southern Queensland

Precision Agriculture

Environmental Benefits of Precision Agriculture: Saving Resources and Protecting Soils

Beyond profitability

3 min read
Combined NDVI and EM data layers on a paddock map

Precision Agriculture

Harnessing NDVI and EM Data for Precision Nutrient Management

The challenge of variability

4 min read

Independent advice

Talk to an agronomist.

We work across

  • Darling Downs
  • Western Downs
  • Border Rivers
  • Granite Belt
  • Lockyer Valley
  • South Burnett
  • Moree to Goondiwindi corridor
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