Production - Cotton

Moonrocks staff spend a lot of time getting the soil ready to grow cotton. Gillebri is an irrigated farm using water from Beardmore Dam and therefore the blocks need to be leveled, which means they are not completely flat, but sloping slightly, ensuring all the plants get enough water.

The furrows allow the water to travel the whole length of the field and transport water evenly and effectively to all the plants. Special machinery is used to form the furrows in the fields and plant the seeds. The seeds are planted in rows in the beds, which is usually done in September in the St george region. Planting depends on many factors but above all the soil temperature must be warm enough before planting the seed, as they will not grow if it is too cold. It takes about 10 days for the tiny seeds to appear above the soil once the seed is planted.

In around 35 days small flower buds form, which open out into creamy white flowers. After the flower has fallen off, a cotton boll grows in its place.

It is inside the cotton boll that the fluffy white cotton fibre grows and seeds form. When the boll is fully-grown it bursts open in five segments to show the fibre inside. Around 180 days after planting the seed, the cotton is finally ready to be picked. It takes around 180 days for a cotton plant to grow from a seed to a fully-grown cotton plant that is ready to be picked.

Gillebri Cotton Co employs an agronomist to advise on pest and weed management, as well as employ local aerial spray companies to complete any such tasks. Gillebri Cotton Co. grows a small acreage of irrigated cotton. However, our main interest in the cotton industry is in contract cotton harvesting, or cotton picking.

Our contract picking team operates in the Talwood, Boomi and Toobeah areas in Southern Queensland. Gillebri Cotton Co. picks 6000-8000 acres in March and April each year.

Our machinery includes:

• four John Deere 9970 Pickers
• six 40 foot module builders, four with Speedrollers fitted and four with conventional trampers (computer controlled)
• three Boll Buggies
• service truck and equipment
• water truck
• fuel and oil truck
• accessory 4WD vehicles for tarping and other duties

Gillebri Cotton Co. has an enviable reputation for fast, efficient service, with very few mechanical problems. Late model machinery which is well maintained is the key to this success. The aim is to build heavy modules and ensure a clean pick, satisfying customers every time.

Every year Gillebri recruits casual employees to work in this part of the business. If you are interested, there is more information on the employment page.