The cotton industry forecasts the 2017 crop will be the second-largest on record, with favourable conditions, solid prices and a wider planting window even attracting new growers to the fibre.
A $41 million redevelopment of Australia's only cotton seed provider's processing plant is due to start early next year, after the project gained State Government approval.
Scott Morrison has granted Shandong Ruyi an extra three years to comply with an original condition of the sale, to sell down its stake from 80 per cent to 51 per cent. The Chinese company was unable to meet the October 2015 deadline.
There are hopes the Commonwealth's plans to boost research and development in the wine and cotton industries will help make producers more competitive.
The nation's only provider of cotton seeds is planning a $41.2 million redevelopment of its seed processing plant at Wee Waa, in northern New South Wales.
A fifth tender worth $10 million is announced for groundwater licence holders in the Upper Condamine Alluvium, to recover water for the environment as part of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.