The last week’s downpour in some of the driest parts of Australia, have brought cheer to the cotton farmers in those regions. The rains that covered much of the Central and Southern Queensland and the Northern regions of News South Wales (NSW) have brought relief to the farmers, who were facing serious problems as the hot and dry climate had begun to dehydrate the soils. According to Mr. Philip Russell, the Chief Executive of Industry Body cotton Australia, the news of the heavy showers were “some of the best news”
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| they have had “since late 2000”. Also, Mr. Russell confirmed that the rains would now ensure full production of cotton that is being currently grown for the picking in March. According to Mr. Russell, the rain was expected to result in an estimated crop of two million five hundred lb bales in the year 2004-05, which is an indication of a strong recovery from the current year’s 1.2 million bales. However the production is still expected to be lower than the 1.5 million production figures of 2002-03, 3.3 million bales of 2001-02 and the record 3.6 million bales of 2000-01. 
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