THIS year's Australian cotton crop is expected to be about four million bales as the planting season starts to move into full swing.

Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay said with the weather starting to warm up, the cotton planting could get under way and would almost double last season, which totalled about 2.5 million bales.

Mr Kay said wet weather was a large reason why the crop would be so successful.

"Right across the cotton belt, good winter rain has seen the major storage dams fill up," Mr Kay said.

"We are also seeing some $500 a bale for cotton and certainly a lot of interest, particularly in dry land cotton production."

Mr Kay said more rain in early to mid-November when the soil temperature would be a lot warmer would be beneficial to cotton producers.

"There is great enthusiasm and interest in cotton production," Mr Kay said.

"Our yields in cotton in Australia are the highest in the world.

"Three times what the world average is."

Cotton Australia is using this success to kickstart a new program that will see young people try out the industry by way of the Cotton Gap program.

"When people think of a gap year they shouldn't think of just going to a cattle property or overseas," Mr Kay said.

The program will provide a unique opportunity to connect school leavers with cotton enterprises seeking operational staff.

"We see this as a Tinder for farmers and students," Mr Kay said.

"We want to give these students a chance to earn some money and learn some skills."

Mr Kay said the cotton industry was more modern than it used to be and farming as a whole was using new technologies, such as autonomous tractors and even robots.

"The industry is hungry for keen young people who are smart and technologically savvy," Mr Kay said.

"A very different skill set is going to be needed."

Mr Kay said they had already had interest from students and producers, but were seeking cotton producers from the Darling Downs to get on board.

He said it was a way to show a young person the Australian cotton industry that the producers were so proud of.

"Even if they don't in the end decide to have a career in cotton, they will tell their families and friends," Mr Kay said.

"It really is an industry all Australians can be proud of."

Mr Kay said the program would suit two groups of students - those seeking 12 months of employment in a unique rural and regional location and those seeking practical experience relevant to their future studies and a career in agriculture.

"Participants will be supported by the cotton industry to make sure they are job ready to set them up for future opportunities," Mr Kay said.

"These participants seeking a long-term career in agriculture will benefit by creating links for ongoing holiday employment for when they start university or college studies."

Cotton Australia encourages interested students and school leavers to visit cottonaustralia. com.au/work-in-cotton/ cotton-gap for more information and to submit an expression of interest.