Early bird registration now open for Hort Connections 2017!

Registrations are now open for Hort Connections 2017, the premier event bringing together the entire horticulture supply chain co-hosted by AUSVEG, PMA Australia-New Zealand, Australian Organic, Onions Australia and Irrigation Australia!

Hort Connections 2017 will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 15-17 May 2017, and Early Bird rates are available for any industry member who registers before midnight on 28 February 2017, with further discounts available to members of any of the host organisations.

Hort Connections combines the National Horticulture Convention and PMA Fresh Connections, and this event offers a not-to-be-missed opportunity for delegates to network with their peers from across horticulture, benefit from expert speaker sessions, and visit over 250 exhibitors at the extensive Trade Show.

To find out more and register for Hort Connections, view the delegate registration brochure or visit the Hort Connections website.

 

Super greenhouse boosting yield in Aussie climate extremes
Researchers are working to arm Australia’s protected cropping growers with the infrastructure they need to secure the highest possible commercial yields with minimal energy, labour, nutrients and water outputs.
The greenhouse facility under construction.
Last week, Horticulture Innovation Australia and Western Sydney University led an industry tour of the construction of a $3.5 million Greenhouse Research and Education Training Facility. With eight individually-controlled plant growth chambers and around 12km of control cables, the greenhouse is the first of its kind in Australia.

The greenhouse has been developed with the Netherlands’ Wageningen University, and will allow growers and researchers to measure the effects of different light spectrums on plant growth and energy balance, and to assess which factors increase or decrease productivity.

This facility and its associated training programs will provide learning opportunities and significant resources for horticulture professionals at all stages of their careers.

Courses associated with the greenhouse are expected to be announced after construction is completed in 2017.

This communication has been funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Potato Levy, National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Adjuvants – A guide to oils, surfactants and other additives

Adjuvants are additives that enhance or modify the action of a chemical. They are commonly classified into broad categories including oils, surfactants, buffers, acidifiers and fertiliser adjuvants. Adjuvants can modify how a chemical forms, spreads or behaves within the spray solution and/or on the target pest.

Soil Wealth has released a fact sheet that provides insights into how adjuvants work, what types are available, and recommendations on which adjuvant to choose to ensure compatibility with your pesticide’s active ingredients. You can download the fact sheet here.

To find out more about the Integrated Crop Protection project or Protecting Crops, please visit the Soil Wealth website, or join the Community of Practice online. You can also follow the project on Twitter @ProtectingCrops

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

 

2017 European Industry Leadership and Development Mission now open for expressions of interest!
Expressions of interest for the 2017 European Industry Leadership and Development Mission, to be held from 4-11 February 2017, are now open!

The Mission will take a delegation of growers to the 2017 Berlin Fruit Logistica Trade Fair, which hosts over 2,000 exhibitors and is the leading international meeting place for the fresh produce industry. Growers will also have the chance to visit the global headquarters of a world-leading agribusiness. For more information on the Mission, click here to view the flyer.

To express your interest in taking part in this great opportunity, please e-mail info@ausveg.com.au.

Participation on the 2017 European Industry Leadership and Development Mission will be funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited using the National Vegetable Levy, voluntary contributions from Australian vegetable growing operations and funds from the Australian Government.

 

2016 PBCRC Science Exchange: Research into TPP
The Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (PBCRC) Science Exchange gives PBCRC researchers the chance to share their knowledge and discuss the impact of their work on end-users. This year, a joint presentation focused on the tools and strategies the Australian potato and vegetable industries could best use to respond to a pest incursion, such as the Tomato potato psyllid (TPP).

The Science Exchange saw Dr Jessica Lye (AUSVEG National Manager – Science and Extension), Dr Jessica Dohmen-Vereijssen (Plant & Food Research New Zealand) and Dr Gabrielle Vivian-Smith (Chief Plant Health Officer – Agriculture Victoria) join forces to speak about incursion response from an industry and government perspective, as well as research into TPP.

The TPP is a tiny sap-sucking insect that is currently widespread across New Zealand. It is a vector for the bacterium Candidatus liberibacter solanacearum, which causes Zebra chip disease in potato crops.

Discussions to start a research project on TPP commenced four years ago between Plant & Food Research NZ and PBCRC. The project aimed to increase knowledge of the role of non-crop host plants in the life cycle and ecology of the TPP and Liberibacter, with the results to be used to develop effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs in Australia and New Zealand.

The potential cost to the Australian industry from the arrival of such a damaging pest could be extreme, with costs including funding for eradication and management, as well as the economic cost for growers and the industry as a whole from crop damage, reduced yields and lost sales.

Any unusual plant pest should be reported immediately to the relevant state or territory agriculture agency through the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline: 1800 084 881.

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

 

Expressions of interest now open for 2017 USA Industry Leadership and Development Mission

Expressions of interest are now open for the USA Industry Leadership and Development Mission, to be held from 2-14 February 2017.

The Mission will take a group of growers to attend the WorldAg Expo in California, the largest annual agriculture exhibition in the world. Growers will also get the opportunity to visit some of the best farms and produce markets in the country, and meet top producers from the industry. For more information on the Mission, click here to view the flyer.

To express your interest in this fantastic opportunity, please e-mail info@ausveg.com.au.

Participation in the 2017 Industry Leadership and Development Mission to the United States of America will be funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy, voluntary contributions from Australian vegetable growing businesses and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Managing soilborne diseases – Control of cavity spot and forking in carrots

To manage cavity spot and forking in carrots, the industry requires a better understanding of these diseases and their causes. This can be achieved through studying the occurrence and distribution of Phythium sulcatum and Phythium violae across Australia as a priority, and updating previous findings.

Once this research has been undertaken, selected paddocks can be studied to find out how disease suppression can work in different production systems.

If you are a grower or agronomist and want to be part of the solution, RM Consulting Group (RMCG) would like to talk to you about getting samples of carrot roots with cavity spot or forking for a diagnostic analysis. Results and the identities of respondents will be treated as confidential. RMCG is also interested in recruiting participants for a more in-depth study.

For more information, please contact Doris Blaesing at dorisb@rmcg.com.au or on 0438 546 487.

VG15010: Managing soilborne diseases – Control of cavity spot and forking in carrots is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Soil Wealth Farm Walk: Richmond NSW

Val and Sam Micallef will host a farm walk on Monday 12 December at Yarramundi Land, Agnessbanks.

Attendees will join Kelvin Montagu to take a fresh look at soil management and biofumigation in intensive vegetable production.

The farm walk will also look at a biofumigant mixed cover crop of Caliente and Nemat for reducing soilborne disease and weed loading. Attendees can observe this cover crop’s management, learn how to incorporate their own cover crops and hear about how cover crops are performing at other sites.

Attendees will also observe different soil management practices including a no-till pumpkin crop and three tillage implements (rotary hoe, a power harrow and a spadder).

Details for the farm walk are:
Date: Monday 12 December
Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: Yarramundi Land, Agnessbanks

This farm walk is a joint Soil Wealth and National Vegetable Extension Network activity.

For more information, please click here, or contact Leigh James on 02 4724 2117 or 0412 429 418, or email leigh.james@lls.nsw.gov.au.

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.

Soil Wealth and the National Vegetable Extension Network are funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

VegPRO now online!

Are you a levy paying grower and want your levy funds to work for you? As part of VegPRO, the vegetable industry’s own training initiative, RM Consulting Group (RMCG) has developed a website for you to lodge your training needs or ideas for it to consider in its project.

If you are a trainer familiar with adult learning and the agricultural sector, want to be on RMCG’s training register and can help with the design and delivery of training, you can also visit RMCG’s website to register or put forward an idea.

VG15028 Vegetable Industry Education and Training Initiative is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

AUSVEG in the media

Prior to the resolution of the backpacker tax debate last week, AUSVEG Interim CEO Simon Bolles appeared on radio acknowledging a 15 per cent tax rate appeared likely to pass Parliament, and that 15 per cent was comparable to international competitors like New Zealand. Mr Bolles stated that the outcome meant Australian growers could have a higher level of certainty regarding the future of the Working Holiday Maker program.

Following the announcement of the Government’s compromise deal with the Greens, AUSVEG National Manager – Public Affairs Jordan Brooke-Barnett appeared widely on radio welcoming the result. Mr Brooke-Barnett noted that the industry was glad a decision on the matter had been reached, while also condemning the drawn-out political negotiations leading to the compromise.

Mr Bolles also appeared in print media discussing the resolution to the tax debate, saying that the treatment of the issue should serve as an example of the need to ensure industry is involved in policy development from start to finish.

AUSVEG National Manager – Communications Shaun Lindhe appeared on radio this week calling for reform to the labour hire sector to stamp out the mistreatment and exploitation of workers in the vegetable industry. Mr Lindhe discussed AUSVEG’s proposal for labour hire firm registration, which would require firms to prove compliance with Australian law to be able to operate.

Mr Lindhe also appeared on radio discussing Australia’s vegetable consumption, highlighting Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing that over 90 per cent of Australian adults are not eating their daily recommended intake of vegetables.

Mr Lindhe also appeared in print media supporting Tasmanian farmers in their efforts to adapt and respond to challenging climatic conditions. Mr Lindhe spoke of their resilience in the face of recent weather events and highlighted the importance of industry and government support for growers.

The re-appointment of Geoff Moar as AUSVEG Chair and the appointment of Belinda Adams as AUSVEG Deputy Chair were covered in print media this week, with AUSVEG Interim CEO Simon Bolles acknowledging the entire Board’s leadership and direction.

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.