Peracto renews Strategic Partnership with AUSVEG

 
AUSVEG is proud to announce the continuation of its Strategic Partnership with Peracto, one of Australia’s largest private agricultural research organisations.
Peracto delivers a range of independent research, development, scientific and technical services to private and corporate clients, with over 200 years of trial experience within the Peracto team. It provides practical, applied field research for commercial growers and agribusinesses, product development expertise and a wide variety of other services.
With this valuable partnership now entering its sixth year, AUSVEG looks forward to working with Peracto for the benefit of the Australian vegetable and potato industries into the future.
For more information on Peracto, please click here to visit its website.

 

AgNova continues to support Australian Horticulture

 
AUSVEG is pleased to announce that AgNova Technologies will continue to be closely aligned with the Australian vegetable and potato industries following the renewal of its Strategic Partnership for a fifth year.
AgNova works closely with producers to identify market opportunities and develop products to satisfy requirements. AgNova currently supplies a wide range of specialist herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and non-chemical products within Australia.
AUSVEG looks forward to the continuation of this vital partnership and is eager to continue to work with AgNova over the coming year.
For more information on AgNova, please click here to visit its website.

 

Industry leaders celebrated at the AUSVEG SA and William Buck Vegetable Industry Dinner and Awards for Excellence

South Australia’s leading vegetable and potato growers have been recognised at the 2016 AUSVEG SA and WIlliam Buck Vegetable Industry Dinner and Awards for Excellence, with growers and industry members gathering to celebrate leading lights of the South Australian vegetable and potato industries.
The Awards for Excellence, held on Thursday 28 April at the Arkaba Hotel in Adelaide, provided the opportunity to showcase the dedication to high quality produce, innovation and leadership within these vitally important South Australian industries.

2016 AUSVEG SA Awards for Excellence winners:

  • Mr Duy Ly, 4 Ways Fresh – Grower of the Year (proudly sponsored by Peats Soil)
  • Mr Thang Hoang Le (aka “Aussie Kev”) – Young Grower of the Year (proudly sponsored by the South Australian Produce Market)
  • Mr Tony Catanzariti – Rising Star Award (proudly sponsored by William Buck)
  • Mr Mark Glazbrook, Migration Solutions – Industry Impact (proudly sponsored by Elders)
  • Peter Wadewitz, Peats Soil – Community Stewardship (proudly sponsored by Cropping Solutions)
  • Mr Graeme Pitchford, Pitchford Produce – Environmental Award (proudly sponsored by Peats Soil)
  • Ms Alli Peacock, Pricewaterhouse Coopers – Innovation Partner (proudly sponsored by Boomaroo Nurseries)
  • Mr Don Ruggiero, Swanport Harvest – Innovative Marketing (proudly sponsored by Ironwood Careers & Training)
  • Ms Monika Fiebig, Monika’s Organics – Women in Horticulture (proudly sponsored by ANZ)
  • Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia (PIRSA) for the Adelaide Hills ‘Pest Free Area’ project – Researcher of the Year (proudly sponsored by William Buck)

Winners of the AUSVEG SA Awards for Excellence are now in the running for the National Awards for Excellence, to be held during the 2016 National Horticulture Convention on the Gold Coast on 25 June. AUSVEG congratulates all award winners on their success and commends AUSVEG SA on a hugely successful event.

 

Managing risks to create safer potato farms

Farms are among the most dangerous workplaces in Australia, with an average of 43 injury-related fatalities occurring in the agriculture industry every year between 2003-04 and 2013-14. This makes farm safety an important responsibility for any potato grower.
Safe Work Australia (SWA) has listed four key steps to risk management to create safer farms: hazard identification through on-farm inspections and worker consultation; risk assessment of the hazards that have been identified; risk control measures to prevent these hazards; and reviewing risk control measures.
The SWA website also features many Codes of Practice that offer practical information to help manage the risks to farm workers, such as tips to prevent manual handling injuries and advice on safe chemical use. To visit the agriculture section on the SWA website, please click here.
Information on SWA’s risk management advice can also be found in the latest edition of Potatoes Australia magazine. Click here to read this edition.

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

 

New ICP fact sheet: carbon storage levels in vegetable soils

 
Maintaining or increasing soil carbon makes good sense – for the environment and for soil productivity. Climate scientists talk about soil carbon, better known as soil organic matter, as having many productivity benefits, including:

  • Providing a slow release supply of nutrients
  • Improving cation exchange capacity and nutrient-holding ability
  • Buffering against soil acidity
  • Improving soil structure and aggregate stability
  • Improving soil water-holding capacity
  • Reducing erosion risk

This fact sheet summarises the opportunities and management options for mitigating or sequestering soil carbon in vegetable soils. Please click here to view the fact sheet.

To find out more about the Soil Wealth project or managing your soil visit the website, or follow one of the demonstration sites in your region online. You can also follow the project on Twitter @SoilWealth.

The Soil Wealth project is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Global Innovations in Horticulture seminar – speaker list now available!

 
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, which will be held 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. The speaker list for this event is now available – please click here to download the speaker list.

Funded positions are available for attendance at this Seminar for levy-paying growers. Interested parties can contact AUSVEG Global Innovations Coordinator Dylan Komishon on (03) 9882 0277, fax on (03) 9882 6722 or by email at 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.

 

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.

 

Don’t miss out on the Minor Use Education Symposium

The Minor Use Education Symposium will be taking place at RACV Royal Pines, Gold Coast on Saturday 25 June from 1-5pm.
The Symposium, hosted by AUSVEG, will feature presentations by experts in the field of agricultural chemicals from across the industry to provide growers and stakeholders with a greater understanding of the minor use field.
Fully funded positions are available. To see if you’re eligible or to register your interest for this event, please email AUSVEG at minoruse@ausveg.com.au or call (03) 9882 0277.

The Minor Use Education Symposium is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

2016 Reverse Trade Mission – Produce Display

All export-ready vegetable growers are invited to register with the AUSVEG Export Development Team to display their produce to 40 international fresh produce buyers at the National Horticulture Convention on the Gold Coast from 23-25 June 2016.
The Produce Display at the 2015 National Horticulture Convention.
AUSVEG will be bringing delegates from across Asia and the Middle East to Australia to participate in a range of farm visits that will showcase the Australian vegetable industry and to attend the National Horticulture Convention. A Produce Display event will be held on Friday 24 June from 10am to 1pm, giving growers from across the country the opportunity to display their produce to these leading buyers.
To download the registration form for this event, please click here (file will download in Word document format). Register to participate in this exciting event by returning the registration form to export@ausveg.com.au or call (03) 9882 0277 for further information.

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

 

Minor Use Prioritisation Workshop

A Minor Use Prioritisation Workshop was held this week in Adelaide, coordinated by the AUSVEG Minor Use and Agronomy Coordinator. The workshop was attended by growers and industry agronomists, and featured several highly productive discussions about prioritising chemical access for the Australian vegetable industry.
The workshop brought forward current permits for comment and support by growers so that they can continue having access to chemical they require for their growing operations. Growers were also asked for feedback on high-priority pest issues, which will help to shape the industry’s representation at national forums and events where there is cross-industry collaboration.

The Minor Use Prioritisation Workshop was funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

AUSVEG in the media

AUSVEG representatives appeared in print and broadcast media reports across Australia this week discussing the Federal Government’s proposed $5 billion fund to facilitate investment in Northern Australia infrastructure. These reports featured AUSVEG Deputy CEO Andrew White and AUSVEG Director Michael Nixon, who commented on the Federal Government’s definition of Northern Australia – used to classify where this investment could be made – which would exclude the key growing region of Carnarvon.
AUSVEG Manager – Communications Shaun Lindhe appeared in print media this week commenting on the latest Project Harvest research, which has identified innovative technologies that could help shape the future of fresh vegetable retail. Mr Lindhe noted that international retailers have implemented touch screens to give consumers more information about their food purchases, and that domestic retailers could potentially integrate this technology to help Australian shoppers.

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.