Prepare for the season ahead with summer cover crops

Cover crops are an excellent tool for soil management and plant health. They can have a range of benefits, depending on what you want to achieve:

  • Improve soil structure.
  • Add cheap nitrogen.
  • Recover and store leftover fertiliser.
  • Soil pest and disease control.
  • Weed control.
  • Protect the soil from wind and water erosion.

Use this great look-up table to match your main soil management aim to the southern Australian summer cover crops. To download, simply click here.
To find out more about the Soil Wealth and ICP projects visit the website, or join the Community of Practice online. You can also follow the projects on Twitter @SoilWealth and @ProtectingCrops.

The Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection projects are funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

 

Hort Connections to be held in Adelaide from 15-17 May

AUSVEG and PMA Australia-New Zealand Limited (PMA-ANZ) are excited to announce the launch of “Hort Connections” – combining the National Horticulture Convention and PMA Fresh Connections, the premier events of two of horticulture’s leading organisations.
Hort Connections will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 15-17 May 2017, with the event catering to growers and whole-of-supply-chain companies and organisations.
“Hort Connections is a joint initiative between AUSVEG and PMA-ANZ to deliver an industry event that will not only continue the positive legacy from our respective conventions, but provide even more value to our growers and industry members,” said AUSVEG Chairman Geoff Moar.
“We are looking forward to working with PMA-ANZ to deliver this event, which will help build a more unified horticultural industry and attract interest from all across the globe.”
“Hort Connections brings the entire industry together at one world-class event, allowing a wider range of horticulture growers and fresh produce supply chain members to forge strong business networks and gain valuable insights into the entire industry,” added PMA-ANZ Chairman John Said.
AUSVEG and PMA-ANZ are also in discussions with other industry groups to co-host the event in an effort to further unite the horticulture industry.

 

Victorian growers: Visit a ‘cutting-veg’ agricultural research facility

Victorian vegetable and potato growers are invited to visit one of Australia’s cutting-edge research facilities, AgriBio, at La Trobe University in Bundoora.
The tour will focus on crop health and soil health research that is being conducted at the state-of-the-art facility. This is a great chance to meet the researchers who are making a positive impact in our industry.
Buses will depart for AgriBio from two locations: Thorpdale (with an additional pick up in Warragul) and Ballarat (with an additional pick up in Werribee). Morning tea and lunch is provided during the day.

WHEN: Friday 14 October
10:30am to 2:00pm (AgriBio tours, lunch and presentations)
Buses will depart growing regions at 7:30am and are expected to return at 5:00pm

BUS PICK UP TIMES FROM EASTERN GROWING REGIONS
7:30am: Thorpdale Post Office, 24-26 Station St
8:20am: Warragul Post Office, 68 Smith St

BUS PICK UP TIMES FROM WESTERN GROWING REGIONS
7:30am: Ballarat Town Hall, 225 Sturt St
9:10am: Werribee South E.E. Muir & Sons, 879 Duncans Rd

To register for this event, please call AUSVEG on 03 9882 0277 or email info@ausveg.com.au. To view the flyer, click here.

Spaces are strictly limited so be sure to register by Friday 7 October.

 

World of Perishables Dubai: Applications now open

Levy-paying growers who are currently exporting are invited to attend and exhibit at the World of Perishables trade show in Dubai. Funded attendance will give growers the chance to participate in the key fresh produce trade show in the Middle East, gain an understanding of the Dubai market and establish new business contacts in the Middle East.
The World of Perishables trade show will be held from 13-15 November 2016, with anticipated travel dates for participants being 11-16 November 2016. To download the application form, please click here. This form can be returned to AUSVEG at export@ausveg.com.au or via fax on 03 9882 6722.

Export and market development activities for the vegetable industry are funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

 

Coming up: Fresh produce testing for food safety

A chemical Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) and microbial testing workshop for QA Managers will be held at Melbourne Markets on Wednesday 12 October.
This half-day workshop will provide the latest information on what you and your growers should be testing your fresh produce for, and how often, to meet the latest requirements of food safety audits and major retailers.
Register your QA Manager to make sure they are up-to-date on food safety testing requirements.

WHEN: Wednesday, 12 October 2016 from 10:00am to 2:30pm (AEDT)
WHERE: Melbourne Markets Conference Centre – 315 Cooper St, Epping, VIC

Outcomes

  • Understanding the purpose of testing for food safety.
  • Identifying the key chemical and microbial tests needed.
  • Designing a testing program for your produce types and your suppliers.
  • Interpreting test results and what to do if there is a problem.
  • Tools to help understand food safety risk analysis in fresh produce, including the Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety.

This is a Professional Development Event conducted by the Fresh Produce Safety Centre (PMA-ANZ/University of Sydney). It is specifically designed to help QA Managers in fresh produce businesses access and correctly use the latest information on testing requirements.

Australian Potato Industry Extension Needs

Arris Pty Ltd from Adelaide has been selected as the coordinator for the delivery of the Potato Industry Extension Program for the next three years and is committed to the delivery of extension activities that are aligned with industry needs.
Industry forums, the Project Reference Group and inputs from support organisations will be used to capture important extension opportunities for the project. However, to ensure the widest possible capture of needs and concerns, industry stakeholders are encouraged to submit their ideas for extension activities directly to Arris at any time during the project by completing the form found here.

Project Reference Group
A Project Reference Group will be used as a key project management tool in this project and will be responsible for inputs to extension activity development and selection, endorsement of project activities and be a part of the liaison between Arris, Hort Innovation and the Potato Industry Communications project managed by AUSVEG.

Arris will work closely with the AUSVEG Communications project to ensure that relevant information is disseminated to industry in the most appropriate way and in an efficient and timely manner.

If you would like to be considered for selection or nominate someone for possible selection on the Project Reference Group, please contact Adrian Dahlenburg (adahlenburg@arris.com.au or 0488 739 300) for further information about the role and responsibilities of the Group and for nomination requirements.

This project has been funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Potato Levies and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Funding grants for women’s leadership development

Women & Leadership Australia is administering a national initiative to support the development of female leaders across all industry sectors.

From 21 September 2016, the initiative will provide women in the agriculture sector with grants for leadership development at three levels.

1. Senior management and executive level women leaders can apply for $8,000 part-scholarships to undertake the Advanced Leadership Program.

2. Mid-level female managers and leaders can apply for $4,000 part-scholarships to undertake the Executive Ready Program.

3. Aspiring talent and emerging women managers can apply for $3,000 part-scholarships to undertake the Accelerated Leadership Performance Program.

For more information, please contact Ian Johnson at the office of the National Industry Scholarship Program, Women and Leadership Australia on 03 9270 9016 or via ijohnson@wla.edu.au.

An Expression of Interest form can be downloaded here. The deadline for expressing your interest for this funding ends on 15 December.

 

 

Nielsen data presentations roadshow

 

As part of Hort Innovation’s research project VG15019 Baseline Demographic Research for the Vegetable Industry, also known as Nielsen Homescan data, a series of presentations has been organised with the assistance of the National Vegetable Extension Network.
These presentations will briefly explain the project, its data and the resulting analysis to those unfamiliar with the data, with case studies of how the analysis could be applied to a growing operation, focusing on the commodities grown in the regions in which the presentations are being held. There will also be a brief opportunity for any interested growers to speak with the Nielsen data team one-on-one.

Please see below for details of the presentations:

Location Date/time RSVP contact More information
Stanthorpe/DAF Applethorpe Research Station 4:15pm
Wednesday 5 October		 Clinton McGrath
0428 102 319		 Part of regular growers meeting, with overview of data project using examples of commodities grown in the Granite Belt area: capsicum, broccoli and lettuce.
Toowoomba West Wellcamp Airport 1:00pm
Thursday 6 October		 Clinton McGrath
0428 102 319		 Part of regular growers meeting, with overview of data project using examples of commodities grown in the Darling Downs area: lettuce, carrots, broccoli, onions and corn.
Gatton DAF Research Facility/Lockyer Valley Growers
Opposite UQ Gatton, off Warrego Highway		 4:15pm
Thursday 6 October		 Email – click here Part of regular growers meeting, with overview of data project using examples of commodities grown in Lockyer Valley: lettuce, beans, corn, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.
Leppington Progress Hall, 123 Ingleburn Road, Leppington 10:00am – 12:00 noon
Tuesday 11 October		 Email – click here Note: this is a meeting of Chinese growers, with a translator present.
Wyndham Cache, 243 K Road, Werribee South VIC 3030 3:00pm – 4.30pm
Tuesday 18 October		 Email – click here Gain the business edge workshop
Focus commodities: brassica (broccoli) and lettuce.
The Top Paddock, Maffra Community Sports Club (Upstairs), 122/126 Johnson Street, Maffra 3860
East Gippsland		 2:00pm – 2.45pm
Wednesday 19 October		 Email – click here The Produce Forum

Focus commodities: leafy veg, brassicas, snow peas.

Interested growers can RSVP to the listed contact for each presentation.

All Nielsen Homescan data provided for the Australian vegetable industry is available on the levy-funded InfoVeg database. To view all Nielsen reports from 2016, including the latest reports using data from August 2016, please click here.

Nielsen Homescan data for the vegetable industry and the National Vegetable Extension Network are funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

 

New Food Safety Guide for Farmers’ Markets

In collaboration with Food Safety Australia New Zealand, the Australian Farmers’ Markets Association has published a new Food Safety Guide to help more than 180 farmers’ markets understand their duty of care and comply with regulations.
The guide aims to assist stallholders and managers trading across Australia with regulations for horticulture, food sampling, food handling, labelling, nutrition panels and more.
For more information, click here.

 

 

Draft National Standard for Certification of Australian Seed Potatoes available for industry comment

A draft of the revised National Standard for the Certification of Australian Seed Potatoes is now available for industry comment.
Over the past six months a small team has been consulting widely with industry to review the existing National Standard for Certification of Australian Seed Potatoes. The project will ensure that we have a Standard that meets world’s best practice. The seed certification system across Australia operates well and is well-recognised in the marketplace, and the process of review ensures that the industry stays current and up-to-date.
Consultation covered growers, processors, researchers, certification authorities and government agencies and included a substantial industry workshop.
Further industry comment is now sought. The draft National Standard can be viewed at http://www.seedpotatoreview.org/. Comments in relation to the standard can be submitted online at submissions@seedpotatoreview.org or simply send an email with your name and phone number and one of the consultants will be in touch.

Submissions on the draft standard close Friday 30 September 2016.

This project is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Potato Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Nominations now open for 2016 Queensland Agriculture Awards

 

This year the Queensland Government will be recognising the contribution of two individuals to the agriculture, fisheries or forestry sector with the Peter Kenny Medal and the Minister’s Emerging Leaders Award.
Nominations for each award are open until 21 October 2016 and the successful recipients will be announced as part of the AgFutures Conference Dinner on 22 November 2016.
The Peter Kenny Medal and $3,000 prize will be awarded to an individual or organisation who has made an outstanding contribution to Queensland’s agriculture, fisheries and/or forestry sector in terms of innovation leading to profitability and sustainability.
The Minister’s Emerging Leaders Award will recognise an individual aged between 18-30 within the Queensland primary industry sector who has demonstrated professional excellence and leadership and has made an outstanding contribution to the agriculture, fisheries and/or forestry sector.
For more information, including award eligibility and how to apply, visit www.daf.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.

 

AUSVEG in the media

AUSVEG Interim CEO Simon Bolles welcomed today’s decision from the Federal Government to reduce the tax rate for working holiday makers to a lower rate than the initial proposed rate of 32.5 per cent. Mr Bolles said that while this decision resolves the extended uncertainty over the backpacker tax, it remains to be seen what impact this tax rate could have on the amount of backpackers coming to Australia.

AUSVEG National Manager – Export Development Michael Coote also appeared widely on broadcast and in print media commenting on the bankruptcy and collapse of Korean conglomerate Hanjin Shipping. Mr Coote said that some vegetable growers along the east coast of Australia were affected and added that it was sharp lesson on just how quickly supply chains can come up short.

The announcement that Hort Connections, combining the National Horticulture Convention and PMA Fresh Connections, will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 15-17 May also featured widely in print and on broadcast media.

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.