AUSVEG and PMA-ANZ combine forces to host joint industry event in 2017

 
AUSVEG and PMA Australia-New Zealand Limited (PMA-ANZ) will unite to deliver a joint industry conference and trade show in 2017, marking an historic partnership between two of horticulture’s leading organisations.
The event will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre at a date to be confirmed in May or June. The Memorandum of Understanding between AUSVEG and PMA-ANZ will effectively combine two of the industry’s biggest conventions to provide growers and whole-of-supply-chain companies and organisations with the most significant horticulture event in the Australasian region.
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.
AUSVEG is the industry body representing Australia’s 9,000 vegetable and potato growers. PMA-ANZ is an affiliate of the Produce Marketing Association (PMA Global), the leading global fresh produce trade association serving member companies around the world and every segment of the fresh fruit, vegetable and floral supply chain.
More details relating to this event will be released in due course. For more information on this historic announcement, please click here.

 

Upcoming Farm Walk and irrigation workshop – Friday 2 September

A Farm Walk will be held in Werribee South, Victoria, on Friday 2 September to discuss the national Soil Wealth project, the progress of its Werribee South farm site, measurable cropping and soil results, and the outcomes and challenges of managing soils to ensure healthy soils and profitable crops while looking after regional and grower sustainability.
The day will also include an irrigation workshop, with discussion topics to include:

  • the benefits and costs of soil moisture monitoring equipment in vegetable cropping systems;
  • linking soil moisture probes, weather data and crop factors to estimate crop water needs and irrigation scheduling;
  • the use of solar panels in irrigation pumping; and
  • the challenges and benefits of installing, managing and using drip irrigation in vegetable production.

Details for the Farm Walk are as follows:

Time/date: 2:00 – 4:00pm, Friday 2 September 2016
Location: Fragapane Farms, 766 Duncan’s Road, Werribee South

A barbeque and beverages will follow the workshop. For further information or to register your interest for the farm walk, please contact Stuart Grigg at stuart@sgaghortconsulting.com.au or on 0400 860 763.

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

 

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. Interested parties can request a copy of the draft National Standard by contacting Anthony Kachenko from Horticulture Innovation Australia at Anthony.Kachenko@horticulture.com.au. Comments in relation to the standard can be submitted on-line at submissions@seedpotatoreview.org or simply send an email with your name and phone number and one of the consultants will be in touch.
This project is funded by the National Potato Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

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.

 

Strategic Investment Advisory Panels finalised

Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation) has announced that nine more Strategic Investment Advisory Panels have been finalised.
These panels will advise Hort Innovation on its research, development and extension, trade and marketing activities to achieve the best results for industry from grower levies and government funds.
The new panels represent the avocado, dried prune, dried grape, raspberry and blackberry, strawberry, sweetpotato, potato (fresh), potato (processed), and table grape industries.

The panel for the fresh potato industry comprises:

  • Daryl Lohrey, Lohrey Pastoral (TAS)
  • John Doyle, Doyle’s Farm Produce Pty Ltd (NSW)
  • Ben Dowling, Dowling AgriTech (SA)
  • Pennie Patane, Patane Produce (WA) Pty Ltd (WA)
  • Andrew Lamont, Oakville Produce (NSW)
  • Frank Rovers, F. & K.L. Rovers (VIC)
  • Geoff Moar, Geoff Moar Family Trust (NSW)
  • David Nix, D.G. Nix (QLD)
  • Tim Heysen, Heysen Partners (SA)
  • Terry Buckley, Buckley Farms (SA)
  • Ken Morley, Solan (SA) Pty Ltd. (SA)
  • Sam Humphries, KR & JM Humphries (SA)

The panel for the processing potato industry comprises:

  • Allan Smith, Snack Brands Australia (NSW)
  • Anne Ramsay, PPAA (VIC)
  • Brett Pemberton, Pepsi-Co (NSW)
  • Frank Mulcahy, Simplot Australia Pty Ltd (TAS)
  • Josh Opas, McCain Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd (VIC)
  • Paul McBeth, Marvel Packers (VIC)
  • Peter Hardman, Simplot Australia Pty Ltd (TAS)

For more information, see the Hort Innovation website.

 

AUSVEG grower biosecurity workshop

AUSVEG is coordinating a grower workshop covering the fundamentals of on-farm biosecurity and other plant pest and disease issues in the Sydney Basin area, to be held at the end of September.
Speakers at the workshop will include:

  • Dr Gordon Rogers (Applied Horticultural Research)
  • Dr Len Tesoriero (NSW Department of Primary Industries)
  • Andy Ryland (IPMC)
  • Dr Jessica Lye (AUSVEG)
  • Callum Fletcher (AUSVEG)

Time/date: 21 September 2016 at 1:00pm
Location: Gate 6, Sydney Field Vegetable Demonstration Farm, Southee Road, Richmond NSW
A free barbeque lunch will be provided to attendees from 12:00 noon. For more information on the workshop, please click here to view the flyer for the event. To register your interest in attending, please e-mail info@ausveg.com.au or call (03) 9882 0277 by 14 September 2016.

 

2016 Women’s Industry Leadership & Development Mission to the USA & Canada

Expressions of interest are now open for the 2016 Women’s Industry Leadership & Development Mission, visiting the USA and Canada from 10 – 24 October 2016! Expressions of interest can be sent to info@ausveg.com.au or call (03) 9882 0277.
This tour is only open to Australian Vegetable Levy paying growers. The cost for the tour is $2,500 (incl. GST), which includes air and land travel, single room accommodation and most meals. Itinerary and dates are subject to change.

Pending approval and participant quotas being met, participation on the 2016 Women’s Industry Leadership and Development Mission will be funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited using the National Vegetable Levy, contributions from Australian vegetable growing businesses and funds from the Australian Government.

 

ACCC reminder: Suppliers’ rights under Food and Grocery Code

With all suppliers to Coles, Woolworths and Aldi now receiving the full benefit of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) believes that a majority of suppliers have chosen to enter Code-compliant grocery supply agreements with these retailers.
As such, it has recently released a reminder on suppliers’ rights under the Code. To read this reminder, please click here.
 

Working holiday maker visa review

The Australian Government is conducting a review of the broad range of issues affecting the supply and taxation of labour performed by working holiday maker visa holders, commonly known as “backpackers”.
This review follows widespread industry opposition to the introduction of the “backpacker tax”, which would tax working holiday makers at a rate of 32.5 per cent from the first dollar earned. However, the Government has broaded the scope of this review to include the visa labour needs of the agricultural and tourism sectors, relevant unemployment policies, and protections for vulnerable workers.
This week, the Queensland Government has called on the new Federal Parliament to pressure the Turnbull Government to remove the tax, saying it will devastate rural and regional economies across Queensland.
Submissions to the review close on Friday 2 September 2016. For more information on the review, including its Terms of Reference and information on how to make a submission, please click here.

 

Irrigation management training for leafy vegetables

As part of its levy-funded research and extension regarding soilborne disease, Applied Horticultural Research will be holding a pilot one-day irrigation management training workshop for leafy vegetables, including baby leaf spinach, lettuce, rocket and field-grown head lettuce.
The workshop will have a focus on managing water to minimise soil-borne disease and maximise quality, and will be aimed at vegetable growers and irrigation managers in eastern Victoria, with suggested topics including:

  • understanding soil wetting patterns and plant water uptake;
  • calculating crop water use;
  • soil moisture and soilborne disease;
  • plant water stress and the effect on yield and quality in leafy vegetables;
  • scheduling irrigations based on evapotranspiration data;
  • methods for measuring soil moisture; and
  • irrigation system efficiency.

If the workshop is successful, the project will undertake further workshops in other regions outside eastern Victoria.
The workshop will be held in East Gippsland on either Thursday 20 October or Wednesday 16 November. Anyone interested in attending should contact Sandra Marques at sandra.marques@ahr.com.au and indicate their preferred date.

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

 

Postharvest management of vegetables roadshow

Good postharvest management keeps vegetables fresh and customers happy. This series of free, half-day professional development workshops will help packing shed managers, QA officers and vegetable supply chain businesses optimise their handling of fresh vegetables, maximising quality while minimising damage, water loss and disease.
Dr Jenny Ekman and Adam Goldwater from Applied Horticultural Research will use case studies, demonstrations and activities to explain the principles of postharvest management and discuss specific issues affecting vegetable businesses. Participants will also receive a free copy of the new “Postharvest management of vegetables” handbook.
The roadshow will begin at Sydney Wholesale Markets, NSW, on Thursday 1 September.
The workshops to be held as part of this roadshow in Victoria and Tasmania next week are some of the first activities of the National Vegetable Extension Network. These workshops include:

  • 6 September – East Gippsland, Victoria
  • 7 September – Somerville, Victoria
  • 8 September – Devonport, Tasmania
  • 9 September – Hobart, Tasmania

Dates will also be scheduled for workshops in Queensland and Western Australia.

With limited numbers available, interested industry members are encouraged to book now and reserve their please. For more details, please click here. To register for a workshop, please contact Sandra Marques at sandra.marques@ahr.com.au or on (02) 8627 1040.

These events have been made possible by funding from Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Using compost safely: A guide for the use of recycled organics in horticulture

Compost is a mixture of recycled organic materials that have been processed by natural organisms, breaking down the original materials into a usable form. Compost has many benefits for soil. It can feed plants, stimulate beneficial microbes, improve soil structure and help the soil retain nutrients, water and warmth.
However, compost is also a potential source of microbial, chemical and physical contamination. Human pathogens in manure, heavy metals in sewage sludge and plastics left in green waste bins all have the potential to contaminate growing sites and fresh produce.
Growers may therefore be reluctant to use compost, in spite of its potential benefits, because of concerns about how it could affect the safety of the food they grow.
This guide describes how fresh produce growers can use compost without affecting their food safety assurance program. Download the useful guide here.
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.

 

Supercharging the future of the horticulture industry

As part of its industry leadership campaign, Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation) has announced two more initiatives to help future-ready the vegetable, fruit, nut, turf, nursery and cut-flower sectors.
The initiatives – which include a Master Class in Global Horticultural Business and a national industry-focussed PhD scholarship scheme – will help growers develop their competitive edge when dealing with domestic and global markets.
The Master Class program will be undertaken over nine months with learning modules focussed on areas such as innovation, global supply chains, marketing and governance. First enrolments will open in late 2016 and begin early 2017. Thirty participants will be selected each year for participation in the five-year program.
The PhD scholarship scheme will encourage PhD research by awarding six scholarships annually for the length of the five-year program.
For general details on leadership programs being undertaken for the horticulture industry, please contact Bianca Cairns at Hort Innovation at bianca.cairns@horticulture.com.au.

These programs are funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using levy funds and funds from the Australian Government.

 

2016 Practicalities for Exporting Vegetables Symposium now online!

The 2016 Practicalities for Exporting Vegetables Symposium, held Sunday 26 June at RACV Royal Pines, provided Australian growers with a practical overview of the export process.
The speakers at the Symposium included experts from across the export supply chain, representatives from Austrade and the Australian Government, as well as vegetable growers sharing their experiences of the export process.
All presentations from the Symposium are now available on AUSVEG’s YouTube channel. Please click here to access these videos.

Other presentations, including the 2016 Global Innovation in Horticulture Seminar and the speaker sessions from the 2016 National Horticulture Convention, are also available on the AUSVEG YouTube channel. Please click here to view all events available.

The 2016 Practicalities for Exporting Vegetables Symposium was funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

AUSVEG VIC memberships due for renewal

AUSVEG VIC would like to remind Victorian vegetable and potato growers that AUSVEG VIC memberships are due for renewal.

Membership fees are due by 31 August 2016, and will help to fund AUSVEG VIC’s work in advocating for Victorian vegetable and potato growers, including representing their needs and concerns to all levels of government.

AUSVEG VIC is run by growers for growers, and is guided by its Executive Committee, which currently includes 12 dedicated growers who represent a broad cross-section of experience and expertise.
For more information on renewing membership or about AUSVEG VIC in general, please contact AUSVEG VIC State Manager Kurt Hermann at info@ausvegvic.com.au. Please click here to download a 2016/17 AUSVEG VIC membership form.

 

AUSVEG in the media

AUSVEG National Manager – Public Affairs Jordan Brooke-Barnett continued to feature on radio this week commenting on the reforms to the Horticulture Code of Conduct recommended by the independent review held in 2015. Mr Brooke-Barnett said that discussions need to be held about the implementation of reforms to the Code.
AUSVEG National Manager – Communications Shaun Lindhe and AUSVEG National Marketing Manager Nathan McIntyre featured in print and radio media this week discussing a range of industry news and research and development, including:

  • the historic announcement that AUSVEG and PMA-ANZ will combine forces to host a joint industry event in 2017;
  • recent research from Macquarie University showing that men who eat vegetables smell more appealing to women;
  • a rise in the value and volume of imports of frozen prepared potatoes, noting the Australian industry’s concerns about competitiveness and profitability in the face of these imports;
  • the latest results from the Project Harvest consumer study commissioned by Horticulture Innovation Australia, showing that Australian shoppers are moving towards more on-the-spot decisions about fresh vegetable purchases; and
  • results from the most recent AUSVEG Economic Confidence Survey, which found that vegetable growers’ confidence increased during the June 2016 quarter.
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.