Season Success: Building Resilient Cropping Systems

• Practical insights to set your 2026 season up for success, drawing on lessons from recent seasons and current agronomic trends.
• Expert-led discussion on key disease risks, how they develop through the season and what proactive management really looks like (including emerging testing tools).
• Clear, system-level thinking around soil health, biologicals and how biostimulants and inoculants fit into resilient cropping programs.
• An industry outlook on what’s changing now and what to expect heading into 2026, so you can plan with confidence, not hindsight.
• A collaborative, on the ground focus: applied science, practical decision-making and time for questions with experienced agronomists and industry specialists.

   

Workshop Agenda (4-6:30pm)

• Welcome: Open to the event with a brief welcome and outline how the day will support practical decision making for resilient cropping systems heading into 2026.
• #1 Research update: Dr Noel Knight and Ben Evert will provide an update on the Hort Innovation onion research project, focusing on fungicide resistance and new testing to support on farm management next season.
• #2 Key disease concerns in horticulture: Shane Fitzgerald will deliver a refresher on key disease risks, exploring disease lifecycles, practical management approaches and relevant testing, including emerging tools.

  Break and discussion

• #3 Soil health, biologicals and system resilience: Dr Neil Wilson will explore soil health and the role of biologicals in cropping systems, clarifying the difference between types of biologicals  and how agriculture and management decisions influence soil microbiology.
• #4 Learning from the 2025 Season – agronomy Q&A: Facilitated by Liam Riedy with local agronomists and growers, this session will reflect on key agronomic challenges and wins from the 2025 season through open discussion.
• #5 Industry update and outlook for 2026: Michael Sippel from Lockyer Valley Vegetable Growers will share an industry update and what to expect heading into 2026.
• Looking ahead: A summary of key take home messages from Liam Riedy, next steps and tips on where to find support moving forward.

  Final Q&A and BBQ Catering