Vegetable growers have faced additional challenges over recent years due to extreme or prolonged rain events impacting on various stages of crop production and farm profitability. While extreme weather events are generally outside the control of growers there are things that can be put in place to be better prepared, reduce risks and support a return to production more quickly.

Reducing farm biosecurity risks and being prepared in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall is the focus of the Building Biosecurity Capacity and Resilience within the NSW Vegetable Industry project funded by the Australian and NSW Government’s Storm and Flood Industry Recovery Program with support from AUSVEG.

Community of Practice

A Community of Practice (CoP), comprising of agronomists, service providers, researchers and other industry representatives, has been established. The goal of this group is to support those supporting vegetable growers to make informed and timely crop management decisions. At least quarterly, the CoP meets remotely to share seasonal and regional specific topics and issues associated with pest, disease and weed management, and advises on content for engagement activities. Further information can be found here.

Surveillance and diagnostics

The project is offering complimentary diagnostics to vegetable growers and crop advisors through the NSW Department of Primary Industries.  If you would like to submit a sample, please get in touch using the contact information below. Sampling guidelines are available.

Engagement activities

Having confidence that the farm is prepared, that time critical, informed decisions can be made under pressure, and appropriate responses following a severe weather event are undertaken all combine to ensure a more resilient business. The project is conducting field days, workshop, drop-in sessions and one-on-one farm visits. These events are developed in partnership with local agencies, advisors and agribusinesses to ensure topics and guidance to growers is appropriate for the growing region.

Resources to manage pests and diseases

The following resources have been developed or collated through the project to support preparedness and recovery associated with prolonged and extreme weather events.

General information

• Managing on-farm biosecurity risks in wet weather events

Pest and disease management

• Spray water quality
• IPM and spray management
• Clubroot management in brassica vegetables

Food safety

• Managing floodwater associated food safety risks in melon production and postharvest handling (NSW DPI)

Case Studies

• Coming soon

Articles

Article from Australian Grower Magazine, Winter 2024: A local focus to build strategies for vegie growers to prepare and rebuild

Webinars

• Hyper-local weather forecasting for NSW growers- Jane’s Weather, AgLogic & Case Study Growers

Podcasts

• Hyperlocal weather forecasting for growers- with Jane Bunn, Jane’s Weather

Videos

• Coming soon

Crop Gross Margin Tool

A gross margin budget can be used to compare crop scenarios and associated risk implications. After a severe weather event, decisions may be required dependent upon the type and extent of damage to the current crop, and what to plant for the following crop dependent upon post-event site conditions.   The project has developed a tool to help growers make informed economic decision on whether to harvest the current crop and what crop/s and management decisions will best assist them to financially recover.

The tool is designed to be used by growers with the support of their trained farm advisors. 

A gross margin represents the difference between gross income and the variable costs of producing the crop. Typically, they do not include permanent labour, but this tool includes this input to understand the implications of labour to harvest and process a potentially inferior product caused by a weather event.  While a choice can be made to include labour in this budget, the focus on a crop/enterprise level means farm level overhead costs, such as machinery depreciation and interest payments, are not included in gross margin budgets, so they do not calculate farm profit.

Click here to access the tool- Coming soon.

Operations will vary from field to field, and between farms and regions. These budgets provide an indication only and vegetable farmers are advised to tailor their own budgets to the requirements of individual crops and paddocks.

The Industry Building Biosecurity Capacity and Resilience within the NSW Vegetable project has been funded under the Storm and Flood Industry Recovery program, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments, and supported by AUSVEG. 

Although funding for this product has been provided by both Australian and NSW governments, the material contained herein does not necessarily represent the views of either government.