Fed: Cotton appeal for federal help as drought bites
A cotton grower has appealed for more federal help, with new figures showing industryproduction has been halved by the drought.
Cotton Australia, in its review of the 2002-03 season, says production's been cut 50per cent to 1.6 million bales by the drought.
And it says the coming season looks worse, with the chance that cotton production couldslump to less than one million bales.
Cotton is the nation's third biggest export crop, with overseas sales in 2001 worthalmost $2 billion.
But Queensland cotton grower GLENN FRESSER says many farmers are fighting to survive.
And he says the Cotton Research and Development Corporation -- which has helped drivehuge improvements in cotton yields and water efficiency -- is on the brink of going broke.
AAP RTV sw/sb/rt/rp
KEYWORD: COTTON (CANBERRA)
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