Cotton is being produced with significantly less water, land and insecticides than it was three decades ago.

It was a tough season for cotton producers, but ABARES says the only way is up off the smallest plant since the 1970s.

It has been a year where only the toughest of cotton crops survived, which has made the efforts of the FastStart award winners more special.

China is set to hike purchases of American products - including agri goods - while American intellectual property will see increased protection.

Anti-cotton sentiment appears to be waning as the drought rages on, reports Paul Myers.

The Australian cotton sector is on track for its lowest production in a decade and analysts warn it will be a slow recovery process.