Since our last update, the VegNET Western Australia team has been busy on the road, connecting with growers, researchers and industry partners across the state and beyond to ensure WA vegetable businesses remain informed, supported and well positioned to tackle emerging challenges.

Myalup roadshow delivers strong grower engagement

One of the highlights was the VegNET WA Roadshow held in Myalup in March, which attracted one of the largest grower turnouts we’ve seen in recent years.

It was particularly rewarding to welcome growers we hadn’t seen at industry events for some time, reinforcing the importance of taking information directly to regional production areas and creating opportunities for growers to reconnect with industry in their patch.

The afternoon featured presentations covering a range of practical topics relevant to vegetable businesses, including available grant opportunities, pest and disease management, soil health and updates on current research projects.

One of the highlights was hearing from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), which provided an update on the Maximising Carrot Packout project (VG24007). With the project now well underway, growers were able to hear first-hand about current work and future opportunities that will strengthen the WA carrot industry.

The event concluded with an exciting on-farm drone demonstration from Australia Agritech, showcasing the capabilities of the newly delivered TJ100 agricultural drone. The timing couldn’t have been better, with the drone arriving days before the event, giving growers and the owners of the farm the opportunity to see the technology in action.

Demonstrations such as these allow growers to better understand how emerging technologies can fit into their own farming operations, while also providing an opportunity to ask questions and discuss practical applications in the paddock with the experts on hand.

On the ground with VegNET

Building strong connections with our national extension network continues to be a priority for VegNET WA, and Angela Tarbottom and Lisa Hassan had the pleasure of hosting a visit from Jesse Clune and Doris Blaesing from RMCG. Also joining the group on the road trip were Maya Wallens from AUSVEG’s national onion extension program and Zara Burney from AUSVEG’s national biosecurity extension team.

Their visit provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the diversity of Western Australia’s vegetable industry while discussing some of the unique production challenges faced by local growers.

Rather than spending time in meeting rooms, we hit the ground running, travelling through a variety of regions and meeting directly with growers. These conversations were invaluable in providing national project teams with a greater understanding of Western Australian production systems while ensuring growers have direct access to the latest information and industry expertise.

The week also provided an opportunity to revisit several growers involved in ongoing projects and discuss previously identified challenges. One issue consistently raised was the increasing challenge of ryegrass management.

Ryegrass continues to impact production systems across a number of vegetable crops, creating difficulties in crop establishment and increasing management costs for growers. VegNET WA is now exploring opportunities to develop a project that will investigate practical management options and undertake testing to better understand the challenges faced by growers in this area.

The team also travelled to Manjimup to receive an update on the exciting Open Weed Locator (OWL) Project. We were all pleased to see the progress being made here on the farm where the equipment is set up and collecting live data. We also had Guy Coleman, the creator of this project, on the phone to answer some questions and give us an update on the next stages. Projects such as this demonstrate the value of collaboration between growers, researchers and industry, helping develop practical solutions that will benefit vegetable production long into the future.

As the OWL project continues to evolve, VegNET WA looks forward to sharing further updates with growers as new findings become available.

L-R. VegNET RDOs and RSOs at VicVID 2026

VicVID 2026

Lisa and Angela made the trip over to Victoria for VicVID 2026. This two-day event was held on a working farm on the Mornington Peninsula. The event showcased crop protection and nutrition demonstrations, agtech, and the latest innovations in horticulture.

We met and engaged with exhibitors and growers from across the country and saw some brand-new innovations and equipment in action that we hope to see in our part of Australia soon.

Congratulations to the owners of Taranto Farms and organising team. An event of this scale takes months of planning, and it’s clear that its success and popularity continue to grow.

Several WA growers attended to see large-scale weed control technology in action, and we came away with valuable ideas, new contacts and a wealth of knowledge that we hope to put to good use back on the ground in WA.

Angela Tarbottom & Peter Spackman with the Bogdanich Farm team and the delegation of Portuguese growers.

Portuguese delegation visits WA

We recently welcomed a delegation of Portuguese growers to Gingin to learn how WA vegetable producers are successfully farming under increasingly challenging water conditions. During the study tour, the group visited local farms to explore smart irrigation technology, precision scheduling and sustainable water management practices.

Facing similar issues with climate change, water scarcity, labour shortages and rising production costs, the visitors were impressed by the innovation, professionalism and willingness of WA growers to share their knowledge. The tour reinforced the importance of international collaboration, with both regions exchanging practical ideas to strengthen resilient, productive and sustainable vegetable industries.

The WA team making their Pledge for More Veg for Plus One Serve.

Hort Connections 2026

South Australia did not disappoint as host of Hort Connections 2026. The Vegetables WA team were in attendance to explore innovation, reconnect with colleagues and build new relationships. We attended talks and gathered information to share with our growers who were not in attendance. Farm tours showcased impressive businesses, outstanding produce and passionate growers.

SA Markets turned on the X-factor, showcasing the exceptional quality and diversity of South Australia’s produce.

Our group along with many others supported the Plus One Serve program and took the Pledge for More Veg during the event. Everyone should be encouraging Australians
to eat more fresh vegetables every day, so we are delighted to be on board with this fantastic initiative.

Looking Ahead

Thank you to every grower who has welcomed us onto their farms, attended events or shared their experiences over recent months. Your insights continue to shape the work we do and help ensure VegNET WA delivers extension activities that truly reflect the needs of WA’s vegetable industry.

We look forward to continuing the conversations and seeing many more of you at our upcoming VegNET WA events throughout the year.

FIND OUT MORE
Please contact Chi Nguyen, 0457 457 559  chi.nguyen@vegetableswa.com.au

Angela Tarbottom
vegetablesWA | 0427 373 037 angela.tarbottom@vegetableswa.com.au