Extension update: Full steam ahead for South Australia

14 September 2020

AUSVEG SA is the state-wide representative body for South Australia’s $700 million vegetable industry. It works with governments at all levels to advocate on key issues and delivers a number of key industry development programs, which include facilitating VegNET SA – an investment that keeps vegetable growers informed about current R&D activities, results and resources. VegNET SA Regional Development Officer Yanyu Liang provides an update.

Salinity in the spotlight

In recent years, salinity has been a key issue in South Australia. It has particularly affected areas such as the Northern Adelaide Plains, where it has caused significant land damage and crop losses.

With support from the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board (AMLR NRM) and RM Consulting Group, AUSVEG SA hosted a series of webinars in June with national experts covering all aspects of salinity management.

The expert session online was delivered with a focus on irrigation management, salinity and crop nutrition, and recordings are available online here.

As part of the project, Dr Doris Blaesing will be available to work with growers following the session to trial new management practices to address specific on-farm issues.

In addition, AUSVEG SA partnered with Dr Blaesing to develop a salinity guide for South Australian vegetable growers. The guide outlines several key concepts, such as identifying and managing salt stress in crops, salt tolerances of potential cover crops and management techniques for growers and advisors for managing salinity in South Australian conditions.

Click here to access an electronic copy of the guide. To receive a hard copy, please contact AUSVEG SA on the email addresses provided below.

‘Clean Your Farm’: biosecurity focus

The ‘Clean Your Farm’ project has been run as a partnership between Biosecurity SA and AUSVEG SA as a means of supporting growers with the management tools and resources necessary to protect their business against biosecurity incursions.

The design for a new biosecurity program under Clean Your Farm is in progress. The team plans to work closely with industry to roll-out biosecurity guides and resources, and support growers with additional waste management initiatives.

Showcasing veg growers

AUSVEG SA has developed a series of ‘Sustainable Success Stories’ to showcase the efforts of South Australian growers who have adopted new growing or management practices.

The series was developed with support from the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM Board to highlight growers in the region who had adopted new growing or management practices, and sharing these local success stories more broadly with government and industry.

Planning activities

Under AUSVEG SA’s management, the VegNET project in SA has engaged with the South Australian vegetable industry. In the initial stages of phase two, AUSVEG SA participated in the training facilitated by Hort Innovation. This looked at understanding the innovation systems-approach under the new project and participating in the mentorship process to develop the new regional extension plan.

For now, we have selected and convened the Regional Extension Reference Group and commenced development of the Regional Extension Plan incorporating an innovation systems-approach.

The initial project plan has comprised the majority of project activities from the period spanning 1 April to 1 July 2020, and much of the project’s focus will be around developing the project plans and strategy to guide the period following.

The focus areas include, but are not limited to:

Working with AUSVEG SA management to scope and deliver programs in LEAN manufacturing, energy efficiency and waste management efficiency.
Scoping new training opportunities.
Liaising with growers.