National Horticulture Convention early bird rates closing soon

Industry members who have not yet registered for the 2016 National Horticulture Convention are encouraged to do so quickly to ensure they secure the early bird rate before it closes on Monday 25 April.
As well as catering for vegetable, potato, apple and pear growers, this year’s event has expanded to include persimmon growers, Queensland’s horticulture industry and a range of market and supply chain members, paving the way for the 2016 National Horticulture Convention to be the biggest horticulture event in the Southern Hemisphere.
To find out more, view the delegate registration brochure or sign up online at registration.hortconv.com.au.

Join us for a Masquerade!

Come and join us at the National Horticulture Convention for a Masquerade Night, proudly sponsored by DuPont.
Previous theme nights at the Convention, including last year’s Mexican Fiesta, have been fun-filled evenings with great networking opportunities. Tickets to the Masquerade Night are included for Full Delegates’ registration or can be purchased separately. For more information about this event, please click here to view the flyer.
If you have not yet registered to attend the 2016 National Horticulture Convention, AUSVEG encourages you to get in before the early bird rate closes on 25 April. To find out more, view the delegate registration brochure or sign up online at registration.hortconv.com.au.

Notification to increase Vegetable Industry Emergency Plant Pest Response (EPPR) Levy – Objection period open

AUSVEG intends for the EPPR Levy to be increased from 0% to 0.001% of the value at the first point of sale for vegetable produce.
This is only for the Vegetable EPPR Levy – there is a separate Levy in place for potatoes that will remain at 0%.

The 30-day objection period is now open, and will close on 19 April. Objections can be sent to info@ausveg.com.au. All objections will receive a response.

If you would like further information, please contact the AUSVEG National Manager – Scientific Affairs, Dr Jessica Lye at (03) 9882 0277, or email jessica.lye@ausveg.com.au or contact AUSVEG Assistant National Manager – Scientific Affairs, Nicholas Schmidt at (03) 9882 0277, or email nicholas.schmidt@ausveg.com.au.

Nominations open for National Awards for Excellence

The 2016 National Awards for Excellence will be held on Saturday 25 June at RACV Royal Pines and will once again be the highlight of the National Horticulture Convention. The Awards for Excellence provide a fantastic opportunity to recognise the outstanding contributors in our industry.

Nominations are being sought in the following categories:
• Grower of the Year
• Young Grower of the Year – proudly sponsored by Dow AgroSciences
• Rising Star of the Year – proudly sponsored by Coles
• Industry Impact Award
• Environmental Award – proudly sponsored by Netafim
• Community Stewardship Award – proudly sponsored by DuPont
• Innovation Partner Award – proudly sponsored by Boomaroo
• Innovative Marketing Award – proudly sponsored by CMAA-FMA
• Women in Horticulture Award
• Researcher of the Year Award – proudly sponsored by Bayer
Nominations for the 2016 National Horticulture Awards close on 2 May 2016 – make sure your colleagues are recognised for their hard work and dedication to the industry by nominating them today. To view the selection criteria and to nominate, please click here to download the Nomination Brochure.

AUSVEG holds successful Board Meeting in Melbourne

The AUSVEG Board of Directors convened for its first meeting of 2016 at the AUSVEG offices on Monday 21 March.
This was the Board’s first opportunity to officially welcome its newest Director, Belinda Adams (Queensland).
The Board Meeting was highly successful, with discussions taking place regarding the development of the Australian vegetable and potato industries into the future.

Global Innovations in Horticulture Seminar

Following on from the successful 2015 Seminar, Australian levy-paying vegetable growers will have the chance to listen to presentations from the world’s leading innovation experts at the 2016 Global Innovations in Horticulture Seminar on Thursday 23 June at RACV Royal Pines on the Gold Coast.
The Seminar will take place prior to the 2016 National Horticulture Convention at RACV Royal Pines from 23-25 June.
The Seminar will feature nine expert speakers from around the world on topics including precision agriculture, processing machinery, robotic technology, genetic modification, agriculture innovation research and plant breeding.
Funded positions are available for attendance at this Seminar for levy-paying growers. For further details, please click here to download the event flyer or contact AUSVEG Global Innovations Coordinator Dylan Komishon by phone on (03) 9882 0277, fax on (03) 9882 6722 or email info@ausveg.com.au.
The Global Innovations in Horticulture Seminar is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

2016 AUSVEG VIC Awards for Excellence

AUSVEG VIC is now seeking nominations for the 2016 Awards for Excellence. The Awards for Excellence provide a fantastic opportunity to recognise the outstanding contributions of Victorian growers, researchers and industry members across a number of categories.
Join us to celebrate the Victorian vegetable and potato industries with dinner, drinks and entertainment provided. The event will be attended by leading supply chain representatives and growers from across the state and will see a number of leading growers recognised for their contribution to the industry.
Click here to download an award nomination form including a full list of award categories, including the Victorian Grower of the Year, proudly sponsored by E.E Muir & Sons and the Women in Horticulture Award, proudly sponsored by Boomaroo Nurseries.
For further information on this event, please visit the AUSVEG VIC events website.

New information on Australia’s export markets

The latest trade data is now available for Australian fresh potato exports, with Australia’s total export value reaching $17.9 million in the financial year 2014-15.
South Korea was our most valuable export market in 2014-15, with a total export value of over $6.8 million, followed by Indonesia ($2.7 million), the United Arab Emirates ($2.1 million), Singapore ($1.8 million) and Malaysia ($1.4 million).
The data also shows that Singapore offered the best price for fresh potatoes in 2014-15, paying $1.19 per kilogram, followed by the United Arab Emirates ($1.08/kg) and Malaysia ($1.06/kg).
This communication was funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Potato Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

AUSVEG office closure – Easter weekend

The AUSVEG office will be closed on Good Friday (Friday 25 March) and Easter Monday (Monday 28 March). The office will re-open on Tuesday 29 March.

Tee up for the Inaugural Convention Golf Day

AUSVEG is excited to announce that the Inaugural Convention Golf Day will be held at RACV Royal Pines Golf Club on Sunday 26 June.
This event will be the perfect way to unwind after the 2016 National Horticulture Convention on the picturesque Royal Pines Course. With club hire available from the clubhouse, it promises to be a great day of relaxation and socialising with fellow delegates.
For more information on the Golf Day, please click here to read the flyer, or contact AUSVEG at info@ausveg.com.au or on (03) 9882 0277. For more information on the National Horticulture Convention, please visit the Convention website.

Croplife hosts Canberra event

AUSVEG CEO Mr Richard Mulcahy participated in a private dinner meeting in Canberra with several key stakeholders in the agricultural space, as well as food manufacturing and Parliamentary representatives.
The event was hosted by Croplife.

AUSVEG in Canberra

AUSVEG representatives last week held a number of Parliamentary meetings in Canberra with Government and Opposition Members and crossbench Senators.
A range of issues was discussed including labour hire matters, the seasonal worker programme and other current issues.
With the volatile environment surrounding Senate voting reforms being debated, it was a challenging environment in which to discuss policy issues.

Register now for the Minor Use Prioritisation Workshop and Education Symposium

The Minor Use Prioritisation Workshop will discuss current minor use permits, collect feedback on proposed minor use permits and permits up for renewal and will gather information directly from growers on high priority pests to represent the Australian vegetable industry going forward.
The Workshop will take place on 28 April at the Arkaba Hotel in Adelaide from 11am-4pm. This is a very important event for growers to be involved in as it will have lasting impact on the vegetable industry.
A limited number of fully funded positions are available. To see if you’re eligible or to register your interest for this event, please email AUSVEG at info@ausveg.com.au or call (03) 9882 0277.
The Minor Use Education Symposium will be taking place at RACV Royal Pines on the Gold Coast on Saturday 25 June from 1-5pm. The event will feature presentations from a range of experts in the field of agricultural chemicals to provide attendees with a greater understanding of the minor use field. Click here to view the flyer and register your interest.
The Minor Use Awareness Program is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

AUSVEG meets with SITplus

AUSVEG CEO Mr Richard Mulcahy, along with Dr Jessica Lye and Mr Nicholas Schmidt of the AUSVEG Scientific Affairs team, met with Mr Dan Ryan, Program Director of the SITplus consortium, on 18 March 2016. Discussions were held regarding the development of the SITplus program, which uses the sterile insect technique (or SIT) to manage populations of Queensland fruit flies.
Mr Ryan also provided AUSVEG with an update on the construction status of a factory in South Australia with the capacity to produce 50 million sterile Queensland fruit flies per day, with the factory expected to begin releasing sterile fruit flies by 2018.
Communication of levy funded R&D activities in the vegetable industry is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

Register now for the 2016 AUSVEG SA and William Buck Vegetable Industry Dinner and Awards for Excellence

AUSVEG SA will host the 2016 AUSVEG SA and William Buck Vegetable Industry Dinner and Awards for Excellence on Thursday 28 April from 6pm at the Arkaba Hotel, Adelaide, South Australia.
Leading supply chain and grower participants from throughout the state will come together to celebrate the South Australian industry and recognise leading growers for their contributions.
RSVPs can be sent to AUSVEG SA State Manager Jordan Brooke-Barnett at ausvegsa@ausveg.com.au or 0404 772 308.
To view the flyer for the event, please click here, or to fill out a nomination form, please click here.

Integrated Crop Protection events

The Integrated Crop Protection (ICP) project will be holding two events at the end of March, with an ICP spray application workshop being held in Virginia, South Australia and a Soil Wealth farm walk being held in Bowen, Queensland.

ICP spray application workshop
Date: Tuesday 29 March
Time: 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Location: Lot 294, Penfield Road, Virginia SA
Website: click here

Soil Wealth farm walk
Date: Wednesday 30 March
Time: 10:00am to 12:00 noon
Location: Vee Jays Tomatoes, East Euri Creek Road, Bowen QLD
Website: click here

To find out more about the ICP project or protecting crops visit the website, or join the Community of Practice online at ICP’s Facebook page. You can also follow the project on Twitter @ProtectingCrops.
The Integrated Crop Protection project has been funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

Grants for WA businesses exporting to Asia now open

The Western Australian State Government has announced $3 million in grants for exporters to help boost export opportunities for Western Australia’s agricultural and food products in Asian markets.
The Department of Agriculture and Food’s Asian Market Success project looks to support Western Australian agrifood businesses to invest in accessing and developing high-value markets in Asian. Individual grants are between $20,000 and $200,000.
Expressions of interest for the first round of grants are now open for eligible Western Australian agrifood businesses. For more information, click here to visit the Department’s website.

AUSVEG in the media

AUSVEG CEO Richard Mulcahy appeared in broadcast and print media this week responding to the Australian Government’s announcement of a review into the proposed backpacker tax. Mr Mulcahy reiterated the importance of backpackers as a labour source for the Australian vegetable industry and noted the recent decline in the number of backpackers visiting Australia must be arrested if the vegetable industry is to remain viable.
AUSVEG Deputy CEO Andrew White appeared across broadcast and print media welcoming the Australian Government’s announcement that it will introduce an “effects test” into Australian competition law. Mr White said that the introduction of this effects test was long overdue, and that it would help to ensure Australian growers can operate in an open and competitive marketplace without being impacted by anti-competitive behaviour.
AUSVEG spokesperson Dimi Kyriakou appeared in the media speaking about vegetable levy funded research into the effectiveness of commercial frost cloths, known as “fleece”, in protecting susceptible crops during winter. Ms Kyriakou noted that frost damage to vegetable crops is a severe issue for many vegetable growers, and highlighted researchers’ suggestions that fleece material could be most useful for low-growing leafy crops, which are the most susceptible to this type of damage.
Communication of levy funded R&D activities is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy, National Potato Levy and funds from the Australian Government.