When Matthew Gay started farming with his father in 1980, the best place to find out what was happening in the industry was over a quiet beer on a Friday night.

40 years later, Matthew (pictured above with his son Chris) thankful for the advances that have been made in industry communications that mean knowledge transfer is quicker, easier, and accessible from almost anywhere – even out in the paddock.

Through the Fresh Potato Fund, Hort Innovation funds a huge range of industry communications designed to make sure that growers can keep across the latest levy-funded research and development and know where to go to find out more. These communications include the AUSVEG Weekly Update, the bi-monthly Potatoes Australia magazine, a wide array of social media like AUSVEG’s Twitter and Facebook accounts.

As Matthew says, these communications cover every aspect of the industry – certification, mini-tuber production, pests and diseases, soil analysis, and even grower profiles so industry members can stay connected and learn how growers around the country are taking care of their business.

Matthew has even played his part in spreading industry knowledge, featuring in the December 2016/January 2017 edition of Potatoes Australia in his role as the President of the Crookwell Potato Growers’ Association to discuss the organisation’s quality assurance program.

To read more about how industry communications are helping Matthew with his growing operation, read the latest edition of Grower Success Stories – Real results from the potato R&D levy.

This post appeared in the AUSVEG Weekly Update published 27 February 2018.