Dr. Stephen Yeates has been instrumental in assessing the feasibility and sustainability of cotton production throughout Australia’s tropical regions having worked in various locations including Kununurra, Katherine, Darwin and Townsville as a Principal Research Scientist with the CSIRO.

He coordinated a collaborative research through several Cotton CRC’s working closely with researchers from various State Government agencies which focused on potential production areas spanning Broome in Western Australia to the Burdekin in Queensland. His work emphasized the importance of understanding local biotic and abiotic factors and demonstrated the necessity for having region-specific production systems. This approach led to the development of several NorPAK grower guides that have served as blueprints for sustainable cotton production in these regions.

During his career he has been a strong advocate for responsible cotton production with research focused on crop physiology, yield potential, canopy management, effective irrigation for Bollgard cotton and nitrogen management coupled with extensive extension efforts to equip growers and their advisors with best practice information. Much of his work focused on adapting agronomic management to overcome or mitigate climatic limitations, and in 2017, Steve received a joint CSD Researcher of the year award for his work in this area.

His research efforts that span 30 years have provided a foundation that has enabled successful cotton production and culminated in the confidence to re-commence commercial cotton production at scale in the Kimberley region with completion of a new ginning facility in 2025. What set Steve apart during his career was his capacity for original thought coupled with an innate understanding of and ability to think like a cotton plant.