Supplied by Cotton Australia
The Australian cotton industry is now reaping the rewards of an 18-month program to improve its best management practice program, ‘myBMP’, enabling growers to maintain best practice for land management.
myBMP is the Australian cotton industry’s voluntary farm and environmental management program for growers— designed for all cotton growers, big and small. An online self-assessment program which identifies best management practices and standards for Australian cotton production, myBMP is a system that allows growers to confidentially compare practices and measure improvement. Aligned with internationally recognised quality assurance programs and marketing initiatives for sustainable cotton production, myBMP-accredited farms produce the world’s best cotton using responsible and efficient management practices.
Upgrades to the myBMP program, supported by funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme (NLP) and the Cotton Research Development Corporation, maintained best practice standards while streamlining content, requiring growers to complete less checklist items.
Cotton growers can maintain best practice land management with myBMP. Photo: Janelle MacPherson.
The myBMP team worked with consultants and technical specialists to review and update each of the 10 modules within myBMP. Each module has specific industry standards supported by checklists, additional information and resources, and cover the following practices:
- Natural Assets
- Soil Health
- Water Management
- Energy and Input Efficiency
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Pesticide Management
- Petrochemical Storage and Handling
- Biosecurity
- Fibre Quality
- HR & WHS
In addition, the myBMP website infrastructure was upgraded to provide an improved user experience, compatibility with mobile devices which include a specialised auditing tool, spatial mapping reports to monitor best practice uptake, and a sustainability dashboard reinforcing the industry’s approach to management.
“The NLP funding has also supported alignment of myBMP with programs that promote and encourage responsible and sustainable cotton production in Australia and around the world, including the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) and Cotton LEADS,” says myBMP Manager Rick Kowitz.
For more information on the myBMP system, visit Cotton Australia, or contact myBMP Manager Rick Kowitz on rickk@cotton.org.au or by phoning 0427 050 832.
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