Expressions of Interest: vegetable industry Strategic Investment Advisory Panels

Hort Innovation is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from suitably qualified growers and other supply chain stakeholders for the vegetable industry Strategic Investment Advisory Panels (SIAPs) – Farm Productivity, Market Development and Consumer Alignment.
The SIAPs provide strategic investment advice to Hort Innovation in relation to industry research and development programs funded by industry levies and matching dollars from the Australian Government. They are guided by the strategic priorities set out in the industry Strategic Investment Plan.
If you would like to help shape the future of the Australian vegetable industry, apply by using the Expressions of Interest form on Hort Innovation’s website. Details on the EOI process and closing dates can also be found here.
Applications will be assessed and shortlisted by an independent recruitment firm. A selection panel may then interview shortlisted candidates. The selection panel will recommend the final panel composition to the Hort Innovation Board.
For more information or to have a form sent to you, please contact Rimfire Resources:

Brisbane: 07 3878 3411
Melbourne: 03 9645 5200
Email: horticulture@rimfireresources.com.au

Soil Wealth and Integrated Cropping Site farm walk update

A succesful and productive Soil Wealth farm walk was held on Wednesday 3 August, at Bulmer Farms in Lindenow, Victoria, along with presentations and demonstrations discussing findings from the Soil Wealth project and levy-funded project VG14048 Review of current vegetable irrigation technologies. 40 growers and industry representatives enjoyed the day’s presentations and discussions.
As part of the Soil Wealth farm walk, Stuart Grigg of Stuart Grigg Ag-Hort Consulting shared information from project VG14048, which reviewed available and emerging irrigation technologies, to highlight the potential value of using irrigation technologies in conjunction with good soil practices. Two moisture monitoring tools that had been installed on site were demonstrated, and attendees discussed solar pumping, drip (or trickle) irrigation and irrigation scheduling.
The Soil Wealth discussion, run by Kelvin Montagu of Applied Horticultural Research, included updates on progress since the farm walk held in May 2015, focusing on cover cropping, soil tillage and building soil structure. Of particular interest to attendees was how the soil structure on-farm had fared following the recent significant rainfall event (100mm in 24 hours), with slumping of beds observed in the conventionally cultivated section, but not in the minimal till bays. The minimal till bays were also observed to be more accessible to farm machinery following the rain event.
Bulmer Farms is one of 114 Soil Wealth sites funded across Australia to challenge traditional vegetable production practices with the goal of improving soil health, increasing grower sustainability, and reducing the impact of vegetable production on the natural environment while not negatively impacting on grower profitability.

The next Soil Wealth farm walk will be held on Friday 2 September between 2 – 4pm at Fragapane Farms in Werribee South, Victoria.

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

 

Submitting R&D concepts to Hort Innovation – from idea to investment

Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation) invests approximately $100 million annually into R&D and marketing programs to benefit Australian growers and the entire horticulture sector.
Potato growers and industry members can take advantage of a straightforward process to submit R&D concepts to Hort Innovation, where they may be commissioned as projects funded by the National Potato Levies.
Ideas can be submitted through Hort Innovation’s Concept Proposal form. Concepts are considered at advisory panel meetings which guide and advise on R&D investments, ensuring that all project proposals align with the strategic investment priorities for the fresh and processing potato industries.
If the concept is approved by an advisory panel, it is then put to tender, which allows service providers, industry members and other stakeholders to submit a tender bid to facilitate the project.
Hort Innovation assesses these tenders to identify the most appropriate service provider. Once a bid has been accepted, this provider begins the program and gives regular progress reports to Hort Innovation throughout the life of the project. Once the project is completed, the results are then communicated to the wider industry for implementation on-farm.

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

 

AUSVEG office closure – Wednesday 10 August

The AUSVEG office in Melbourne will be closed on Wednesday 10 August for building maintenance. It will reopen for business on Thursday 11 August.

 

NSW Fruit & Veg Month

 

Fruit & Veg Month is a health promotion program for New South Wales primary schools, supported by NSW Health, that puts a positive focus on fruit and vegetables. The theme for this year’s program is “Vegetables are Funky!”, with fun classroom and whole-of-school activities that promote kids eating more vegetables.

Evaluation has shown that involvement in Fruit & Veg Month may increase students’ knowledge about the benefits of eating fruit and vegetables, encourage conversations about healthy lifestyles, and increase the amount of fruit and vegetables that students eat – as well as the variety they eat and their willingness to try new varieties.

Fruit & Veg Month 2016 runs from 29 August to 23 September. To find out more about the program and how schools can register for the program, please click here. Please note that while interstate schools are not eligible to register, they can still use the resources available through the Fruit & Veg Month website.

 

New R&D reports available on InfoVeg

InfoVeg is a comprehensive database that has been designed to bridge the gap between researchers and growers. It acts as a resource for growers to easily access technical information and research funded by the National Vegetable and Potato Levies.
The following reports were published recently on the InfoVeg database:

  • Landscape diversity and field margin management (VG14047)
  • Economic Modelling of the Impact of Increased Vegetable Intake on Health Expenditure (VG15031)

Click here to sign up or log in to your InfoVeg account to access the reports.

InfoVeg is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy, National Potato Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Farm Co-Operatives and Collaboration Pilot Program

The Farm Co-Operatives and Collaboration Pilot Program is a Commonwealth Government investment of $14.9 million to provide farmers with knowledge and materials on co-operatives, collective bargaining and other forms of collaboration in the agriculture sector.
Grant funding for delivery of the Program has been provided to Southern Cross University, which will be hosting the launch of the Program at Mantra on Salt Beach in Kingscliff, New South Wales, from 29-30 August.
For more information on the Program launch, please click here.

 

National farmer survey on agricultural extension

As part of the Australian Government’s Rural R&D for Profit program, a national survey of farmers about the topic of agricultural extension is being conducted.
As a participating Research and Development Corporation in the project, Horticulture Innovation Australia is encouraging growers to participate in this survey to ensure the diverse views of horticulture levy-payers on this important topic are represented. Ensuring that farmers have the information, advice and support they need to be productive, profitable, sustainable and connected to the latest research is a topic of national significance identified in the Australian competitiveness white paper, and the results of this survey will be used to shape future agricultural extension services.
For more information on the short 15-minute survey, and to participate in the survey, please click here.
The survey forms part of research into agricultural extension being conducted as part of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Rural R&D for Profit program and is supported by RIRDC (Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation), Dairy Australia, Meat and Livestock Australia, Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Australian Pork Limited, Sugar Research Australia, Horticulture Innovation Australia, NSW Department of Industry, Agriculture Victoria and the University of Melbourne. The survey is administered by Quantum Market Research.

 

Change to minor use permit

 

Lettuce was added to the following permit some time ago. Unfortunately growers of lettuce should note that there have been some phytotoxicity issues reported from use of Propachlor products in lettuce.
Due to these crop safety concerns, lettuce has been withdrawn from the permit, and the new permit listed below has been released.
Lettuce growers should take note that the new version of the permit takes priority, and that use on lettuce is no longer supported.

Permit ID Description Date Issued Expiry Date Permit Holder States
PER12008 v5 Actives: Propachlor
Crop: Silverbeet, spinach, rocket, Brassica leafy veg, shallots, spring onions
Pest: Annual grasses and broadleaf weeds		 18-Jun-2012 30-Nov-2025 Growcom All states except VIC

Please refer to the minor use section below this article for details on how information on minor use permits are communicated to users.

Minor use plays an integral role in the Australian vegetable industry. Please register your details on the Minor Use Database. For more information, please contact the AUSVEG Minor Use and Agronomy Coordinator Scott Kwasny on (03) 9882 0277 or email minoruse@ausveg.com.au.

 

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

 

New Minor Use permits

 

Permit ID Description Date Issued Expiry Date Permit Holder States
PER14353 v2 Actives: Iprodione
Crop: Peppers (including capsicum, chillies and paprika), celeriac (field cropping only)
Pest: Sclerotinia rot		 1-Jul-2014 31-Mar-2022 Growcom All states except VIC

All efforts have been made to provide the most current, complete and accurate information on permits. However, AUSVEG recommends that you confirm the details of any permits at the APVMA website.
Users are advised that while the pesticide can be applied legally under the APVMA minor use permit, there can be a significant delay until the maximum residue limit (MRL) gazetted by the APVMA is adopted in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
Until this occurs the MRL may not be recognised and a zero tolerance may be imposed for residues of the pesticide resulting from its use according to the APVMA permit.
Please be aware that in the absence of a MRL in the Food Standards Code, the use of the pesticide according to the permit may result in the suspension of the produce in the marketplace. Please check the FSANZ website or the Australian Government ComLaw website to confirm if there are MRL established by the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
Please consult APVMA documentation before applying any product to your crop. For more information contact the APVMA on (02) 6210 4701 or Growcom on (07) 3620 3880.
If an adverse experience occurs as a result of using the permit, please fill out a Non-Performance Reporting Form for Horticultural Pesticides and return to jodie.pedrana@horticulture.com.au. To download a Non-Performance Reporting Form for Horticultural Pesticides, please click here.
Minor use plays an integral role in the Australian vegetable industry. Please register your details on the Minor Use Database. For more information, please contact the AUSVEG Minor Use and Agronomy Coordinator Scott Kwasny on (03) 9882 0277 or email minoruse@ausveg.com.au.

 

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

 

AUSVEG in the media

Following the outbreak of salmonella linked to rockmelon consumption last week, AUSVEG National Manager – Communications Shaun Lindhe appeared broadly across radio noting that food safety incidents from Australian-grown produce were extremely rare and that safety standards for Australian growers are among the best in the world.
Results from the Project Harvest study commissioned by Hort Innovation made news this week, with Mr Lindhe appearing in print media talking about a blueprint for growth released in the project’s latest report, which analyses consumer and retail trends to identify potential opportunities for the Australian vegetable industry.
Mr Lindhe also appeared on radio discussing the proposed changes to Section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act to incorporate an “effects test”, noting that it is a positive step towards trying to protect small businesses from misuses of market power.
AUSVEG SA State Manager Jordan Brooke-Barnett appeared on radio this week discussing the potential for future growth in the export market for Australian food producers, and particularly vegetable growers.

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.