AUSVEG

FutureAG Expo - Melbourne
2024-04-17 - 2024-04-19 | Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Rd, Ascot Vake, VIC, 3032, Australia
FutureAg Expo 2024 Powered by Agritechnica will be an exciting exhibition, sales and networking opportunity for: suppliers of agricultural and agro-industrial products, services and technology serving the markets of Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific. Manufacturers, producers, importers and distributors of products and services related to agricultural, aquacultural, horticultural, livestock processes.
WHEN
The show will be held across three days annually commencing Wednesday, 17 April – Friday, 19 April 2024. Open to the industry 8.30am to 4.30pm (Wednesday and Thursday) and 8.30am to 4.00pm (Friday).
WHERE
This inaugural event will be at Melbourne Showgrounds, Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia – the largest participation rate in events in Victoria, the largest exporting state of agricultural products in Australia.

Greening Farm Dams Field Day
2024-04-18 10:30 - 14:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Cape Liptrap, Tarwin Lower, VIC, 3956, Australia
Enhancing farm dams for stock and biodiversity: What difference does a year make?
Come and see the changes that have occurred since Jillian Staton & Bruce Whittaker altered their farm dam to restrict stock access for productivity and biodiversity outcomes.
We will discuss the results of monitoring to compare the impacts of three different farm management systems (restricted, total stock exclusion and unrestricted access) on:

water quality
macroinvertebrate (waterbug) levels
frogs, wildlife and pest species.

We will also hear about:

the role farm dams can play in native fish conservation strategies
managing vegetation around farm dams, including azola and phragmites.

Presenters include:

Jillian Staton: a landholder’s perspective
Ty Matthews (Deakin University) & students Jasper Davis and Balin Branch-Spence
David Carew (Carew Environmental)
Matt Bowler (WGCMA)

Lunch included

AUSVEG VIC Annual Awards for Excellence Dinner
2024-04-27 18:30 - 23:00 | Pullman Melbourne on the Park, 192 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
Sponsored by E.E. Muir and Sons – The AUSVEG VIC Awards for Excellence event shines the spotlight on some of the highest achieving Victorian vegetable growers in the industry.

The Great Trentham Spudfest
2024-05-04 - 2024-05-05 | Trentham, Trentham, Australia
This year marks the 16th iteration of the popular community festival that brings together local potato growers, artisans, music, food vendors, and local history to showcase the region’s finest offerings and products across the weekend of 4-5 May 2024.

Mildura Field Days
2024-05-17 - 2024-05-18 | Mildura Racecourse
Sunraysia’s viticulture industries have united to host a sideline agtech demonstration event at the Mildura Field Days on Friday 17 May from 2pm-4:30pm (Mildura Racecourse).
The exhibitors will present on autonomous vehicles with multi-use applications, plant sensors for irrigation management, postharvest packaging and cool chain monitoring solutions, pest/disease management options, and operations/labour management tools.

Proposed demonstrations are:

Autonomous robot with selective weed spraying – Burro, AME

Variable rate sprayer – Agriculture Victoria

Autonomous tractor – Oxin, Smart Machines & Duxton

Lidar-guided pruning – La Trobe University & DFA

Autonomous tractor- Go Track , AME

Other exhibitors include:

Infra-red plant sensors- Athena IR

Real time cool chain monitoring – Real Time Data Loggers

Digital farm management – Fieldin

Digital picking management and product traceability – AgPick

Autonomous, real time fruit fly detection – Rapid Aim

Fruit packing robot – WootZano

Admission to the Field Days is $10
For further information on the Mildura Field Days go to: Mildura Field Days – Home

IFPA Produce Executive Program
2024-05-19 - 2024-05-24 | Waurn Ponds Deakin University Geelong Campus, 75 Pigdons Rd, Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3216, Australia
Leadership program for managers and high performers across the supply chain of the fruit, vegetable, flower, nut and nursery industries in Australia and New Zealand.
The International Fresh Produce Assocation (IFPA) Produce Executive Program is a fully residential business school style executive program with a unique blend of skill development, industry learning and networking led by world class teachers alongside senior industry leaders. The format contains a mix of interactive lectures, syndicate groups, case studies, group assignment workshops and industry discussion sessions.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Middle to senior managers across the supply chain and from all segments of the fruit, vegetable, flower, nut and nursery industries in Australia and New Zealand. The program is limited to a maximum of 42 participants.

Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards 2024 - Celebratory Dinner
2024-05-31 18:00 - 22:30 | Maffco Brewery and Taphouse, Railway Place, MaffraMaffra, VIC, 3860, Australia
Join us, along with our event sponsors, for a night of celebration as we announce this year’s winners of the Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards!
Enjoy live music and great company in the heart of Gippsland, with a delicious menu featuring the trusted provenance of our region.
Presentations will be made throughout the evening.
Tickets are a fixed price of $95.00 per delegate, which includes complimentary drinks on arrival and a three-course meal.
If you have questions regarding the celebratory dinner, please contact Deanne Kennedy, Jaydee Events: mobile 0419 878 055 or email deanne@jaydee.net.au.
Tickets are strictly limited – secure your place for this premier food and fibre event!

Hort Connections 2024
2024-06-03 - 2024-06-05 | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Convention Centre Pl, South Wharf VIC 3006, South Wharf, VIC, 3006, Australia
In 2017, AUSVEG and International Fresh Produce Association A-NZ joined forces to establish Hort Connections – the largest horticulture conference and trade show in Australasia.
Hort Connections 2024 will be hosted between 3-5 June at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Hort Connections has grown to a 3,000-delegate event and welcomes more than two times the number of growers than it did at the time of conception. Hort Connections 2019 was hosted at the MCEC and was the largest conference ever produced. We are excited to return in 2024 for a bigger and better conference than ever before.
All areas of horticulture will be recognised and celebrated at the conference, bringing together members from right across the vegetable, fruit and floral sectors. Hort Connections will yet again proudly showcase exciting new products, services and technologies to help shape the Australian and New Zealand industry – highlighting solutions in agricultural technology, finance, labour, energy and environmental sustainability.
Attendee analysis indicates a diverse cross-section of the produce industry attend Hort Connections, with those identifying as a grower/packer/processor forming the largest segment.
Join us as we gather in Melbourne to hold what will be the best opportunity of the year to expand your markets, and connect with current and prospective business partners, clients, and peers.

Winter Warmers Seminar: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in vegetables
2024-07-10 11:00 - 14:00 | Austral Hotel, Korumburra
Entomologist Dr. Paul Horne with describe what IPM in vegetables looks like and how growers can move from a reliance on pesticides to using a combination of biological and cultural controls with support from selective pesticides. The workshop will provide an analysis of key biological control agents and cultural options, with participants developing an IPM strategy for their crops during the workshop.

Austral Hotel, Korumburra: Wed July 10th from 11am to 2pm (lunch included)

To register for the Seminar Series, please email emily.scott@foodandfibregippsland.com.au
Please advise of any dietary requirements when you register.

Session sponsored by BASF and Muirs

Winter Warmers Seminar: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in vegetables
2024-07-11 11:00 - 14:00 | The Criterion Hotel, Sale
Entomologist Dr. Paul Horne with describe what IPM in vegetables looks like and how growers can move from a reliance on pesticides to using a combination of biological and cultural controls with support from selective pesticides. The workshop will provide an analysis of key biological control agents and cultural options, with participants developing an IPM strategy for their crops during the workshop.

The Criterion Hotel, Sale: Thurs July 11th from 11am to 2pm (lunch included)

To register for the Seminar Series, please email emily.scott@foodandfibregippsland.com.au
Please advise of any dietary requirements when you register.

Session sponsored by BASF and Muirs

Hydroponic Farmers Federation Conference 2024
2024-07-23 - 2024-07-25 | Tabcorp Park Melton, 2 Ferris Rd, Melton, VIC, Australia
The Hydroponic Farmers Federation Executive Committee are excited to announce the 13th Biennial HFF Conference will be held from Tuesday 23rd July – Thursday 25th July, 2024 at Tabcorp Park in Melton.
Following the successful outcomes of the 2022 conference, we are very confident of repeating this experience. In fact, with the knowledge gained, we can’t wait to present the 2024 conference! We will continue to expand and develop the conference format for 2024, offering our trade members the opportunity to invite their grower customers to conference, to learn, share and network with like-minded people; potentially extending the reach of this conference far beyond previous events, and throwing the conference doors open to non-HFF members.
John Elford, President on behalf of the HFF Executive Committee

Winter Warmers Seminar: Mapping and analysis of soil organic carbon
2024-08-01 16:00 - 18:00 | The Criterion Hotel, Sale
VegNET Gippsland has partnered with Downforce Technologies, Muir’s, and Elders to give growers the opportunity to learn how to improve their farm’s overall soil health and long-term productivity through mapping and managing soil organic carbon (SOC). Come and see a practical seven-year SOC analysis of a local vegetable farm and complete an expression of interest to have your farm mapped & analysed.

The Criterion Hotel, Sale: Thus Aug 1st from 4pm to 6pm + drinks + nibbles.

To register from the Seminar Series, please email emily.scott@foodandfibregippsland.com.au
Please advise of any dietary requirements when you register.

Drinks & nibbles sponsored by Rabobank.

Winter Warmer Seminar: Plant health in vegetable production
2024-08-07 11:00 - 14:00 | Austral Hotel, Korumburra
Joel Williams from Integrated Soils will outline what is meant by plant health and how to achieve it. Plants produce a suite of specialised and sophisticated defence biochemicals to protect themselves, deter pest and attract beneficials; however, they cannot optimise these protective processes without key nutrients and beneficial organisms which support plant health and immunity.

Austral Hotel, Korumburra: Wed Aug 7th from 11am – 2pm (lunch included)

To register for the Seminar Series, please email emily.scott@foodandfibregippsland.com.au
Please advise of any dietary requirements when you register.

Lunch sponsored by Rabobank.

Winter Warmer Seminar: Plant health in vegetable production
2024-08-08 11:00 - 14:00 | Agriculture Victoria, Maffra
Joel Williams from Integrated Soils will outline what is meant by plant health and how to achieve it. Plants produce a suite of specialised and sophisticated defence biochemicals to protect themselves, deter pest and attract beneficials; however, they cannot optimise these protective processes without key nutrients and beneficial organisms which support plant health and immunity.

Agriculture Victoria, Maffra: Thurs Aug 8th from 11am – 2pm (lunch included)

To register for the Seminar Series, please email emily.scott@foodandfibregippsland.com.au
Please advise of any dietary requirements when you register.

Lunch sponsored by Rabobank.

Nitrogen inhibitors and responsive fertiliser programs: Demonstration Trial Walk in Dean
2025-02-13 13:00 - 15:00 | Dean, VIC
Join PotatoLink for a field walk at the PotatoLink Victorian demonstration site, where they are exploring ways to optimise fertiliser practices for potato crops. The demonstration is focused on:

Evaluate the impact of using Nitrogen Inhibitor base fertilisers at different rates on potato crop yield (marketable tuber weight), quality (size distribution, defects and specific gravity), and gross margins.
Compare a crop sampling-based responsive fertiliser program with a conventional fertiliser program to determine their effectiveness in optimising fertiliser use and profitability over a single growing season

During the field walk, you will hear about the strategies employed, view and discuss the crop sampling results to date and understand how these results are shaping the fertiliser program, and its impact on productivity.
You can read more about the demonstration trial here.

Food Safety Drop In Session - Werribee
2025-02-27 13:00 - 14:30 | Velisha Farms, 372 Duncan’s Road, Werribee South, VIC, Australia
Come and have a chat to Agriculture Victoria Food Safety staff.
Information and resources will be available to help growers navigate the new Food Safety Standards for berries, melons, and leafy vegetables.
For more information, please contact: food.safety@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Werribee: Manage pest and disease risk on farm using technology
2025-02-27 13:00 - 16:00 | Velisha Farms, 372 Duncan’s Road, Werribee South, VIC, Australia
Drop in when it suits, or lock in your spot – register here.
Visitors can unknowingly bring pests, diseases and weeds onto a farm. Dirty boots, vehicles, or farm supplies could carry unwelcome hitchhikers – which can have potentially devastating impacts.
AUSVEG and Onside are evaluating how digitised farm visitor management can support decision making and return to trade when a new pest arrives. Vegetable growers, field staff and agronomists can sign up and access Onside for free.
Drop in to learn how you can use Onside to:
Digitally map your farm
Create and share a live map of your property – an Onside product specialist will be onsite to help get you set up.
Automate visitor notifications
Growers receive live visitor notifications, no matter where they are, or how many entrances. Field staff can automatically let growers know that they’ve arrived.
Capture high risk biosecurity movements
Visitors can record plant material, machinery and equipment movements on and off your property.
Contribute to real-time tracing
Share an anonymised view of check-in movement data on and off farm with AUSVEG.
Access pest and disease updates
Pick up resources and free sticky traps to learn about emerging pests such as Fall armyworm and Tomato potato psyllid
See Onside in action
Learn first hand how Redbank Farm is using Onside to manage their visitors and biosecurity.

Thank you to Werribee for hosting the event.
For more info contact:
Rosalie Daniel
0432 842 794
rosalie.daniel@ausveg.com.au
www.getonside.com/ausveg

Agriculture Victoria’s food safety team will be onsite from 1:00pm to 2:00pm to answer any questions growers may have on the new Food Safety Standards. Information on that session can be found here.

This project been funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable research and development levy and funds from Australian Government.

Food Safety Drop-In Session Korumburra
2025-03-05 12:30 - 14:30 | Austral Hotel, Korumburra

Korumburra: Manage pest and disease risk on farm using technology
2025-03-05 12:30 - 14:30 | Austral Hotel, Korumburra
Drop in when it suits, or lock in your spot – register here.
Visitors can unknowingly bring pests, diseases and weeds onto a farm. Dirty boots, vehicles, or farm supplies could carry unwelcome hitchhikers – which can have potentially devastating impacts.
AUSVEG and Onside are evaluating how digitised farm visitor management can support decision making and return to trade when a new pest arrives. Vegetable growers, field staff and agronomists can sign up and access Onside for free.
Drop in to learn how you can use Onside to:
Digitally map your farm
Create and share a live map of your property – an Onside product specialist will be onsite to help get you set up.
Automate visitor notifications
Growers receive live visitor notifications, no matter where they are, or how many entrances. Field staff can automatically let growers know that they’ve arrived.
Capture high risk biosecurity movements
Visitors can record plant material, machinery and equipment movements on and off your property.
Contribute to real-time tracing
Share an anonymised view of check-in movement data on and off farm with AUSVEG.
Access pest and disease updates
Pick up resources and free sticky traps to learn about emerging pests such as Fall armyworm and Tomato potato psyllid
See Onside in action
Learn first hand how Redbank Farm is using Onside to manage their visitors and biosecurity.

Thank you to Korrumburra for hosting the event.
For more info contact:
Rosalie Daniel
0432 842 794
rosalie.daniel@ausveg.com.au
www.getonside.com/ausveg

Agricultural Victoria’s Food Safety team will be onsite to answer any questions growers may have on the new Food Safety Standards. Information on that session can be found here.

This project been funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable research and development levy and funds from Australian Government.

Food Safety Drop-In Session - Lindenow
2025-03-06 12:00 - 14:30 | Lindenow Hotel, 167 Main Road, Lindenow, VIC, Australia

Lindenow: Manage pest and disease risk on farm using technology
2025-03-06 12:00 - 14:30 | Lindenow Hotel, 167 Main Road, Lindenow, VIC, Australia
Drop in when it suits, or lock in your spot – register here.
Visitors can unknowingly bring pests, diseases and weeds onto a farm. Dirty boots, vehicles, or farm supplies could carry unwelcome hitchhikers – which can have potentially devastating impacts.
AUSVEG and Onside are evaluating how digitised farm visitor management can support decision making and return to trade when a new pest arrives. Vegetable growers, field staff and agronomists can sign up and access Onside for free.
Drop in to learn how you can use Onside to:
Digitally map your farm
Create and share a live map of your property – an Onside product specialist will be onsite to help get you set up.
Automate visitor notifications
Growers receive live visitor notifications, no matter where they are, or how many entrances. Field staff can automatically let growers know that they’ve arrived.
Capture high risk biosecurity movements
Visitors can record plant material, machinery and equipment movements on and off your property.
Contribute to real-time tracing
Share an anonymised view of check-in movement data on and off farm with AUSVEG.
Access pest and disease updates
Pick up resources and free sticky traps to learn about emerging pests such as Fall armyworm and Tomato potato psyllid
See Onside in action
Learn first hand how Redbank Farm is using Onside to manage their visitors and biosecurity.

Thank you to Lindenow for hosting the event.
For more info contact:
Rosalie Daniel
0432 842 794
rosalie.daniel@ausveg.com.au
www.getonside.com/ausveg

Agricultural Victoria’s Food Safety team will be onsite to answer any questions growers may have on the new Food Safety Standards. Information on that session can be found here.

This project been funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable research and development levy and funds from Australian Government.

Lindenow: Fall armyworm crop walk
2025-03-25 10:00 - 12:00 | Lindenow
Agriculture Victoria and Queensland Department of Primary Industries (QDPI) are hosting a free crop walk to provide growers insight into fall armyworm identification and management in Gippsland.
Dr Melina Miles, principal entomologist at QDPI, will lead attendees through local corn crops identifying FAW. Farmers, employees and agronomists are encouraged to attend the crop walk as a practical follow-on from last year’s FAW information session.
When: Tuesday 25 March – 10 am to 12 pm
Where: Lindenow, location to be provided after registration.
Biosecurity requirements: All attendees will be required to follow farm biosecurity requirements. Appropriate footwear and sun protection is recommended for field activities.

For more information, or if you need assistance with registration, please contact event organiser Scott Botten (Agriculture Victoria).
Email: scott.botten@agriculture.vic.gov.au
These sessions are part of the East Gippsland Fall Armyworm (FAW) Industry Learning Group under the VG22006 National Fall Armyworm Innovation System for the Australian Vegetable Industry Program. This program is supported by Agriculture Victoria, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, VegNET, and funded through Horticulture Innovation.

Skye Field Day - Butler Market Gardens
2025-05-07 15:00 - 17:00 | Butler Market Gardens, 127 Taylors Road, Skye, VIC, 3977, Australia
Join for a farm walk, presentations and networking BBQ at the Soil Wealth ICP demonstration site at Butler Market Gardens.

The farm walk will focus on the benefits of using cover crops including biofumigants for improving nutrient cycling, microbial activity and disease suppression.

Participants will hear from:

Dale Creed (Butler Market Gardens Operation Manager) and Camilla Humphries (Soil Wealth ICP/RMCG) who will provide an update on the trial site
Doris Blaesing (Soil Wealth ICP/RMCG) who will discuss the benefits of cover cropping
Bruce Scott (Campbells Fertilisers Australasia Pty Ltd) who will talk about the use of nitrogen inhibiting fertilisers to improve nutrient use efficiency in your crop.

VIC: An Introduction to Applying Lean Principles for Increased Productivity and Profiability
2025-05-27 - 2025-05-28

VIC: Meet Julius Joel
2025-06-11 17:30 - 18:30 | Hotel Chadstone

Agri Chemical Masterclass
2025-07-14 10:00 - 14:00 | Century Inn Traralgon, 5 Airfield Road, Traralgon, Victoria, 3844, Australia
VegNET Gippsland is pleased to announce an upcoming Agri Chemical Masterclass presented by Peter Del Santo from AgAware Consulting.
Format
2-hour Masterclass + 1-hour Q&A
Catering
Lunch provided. Please advise of any dietary requirements on registration.
The presenter
Peter Del Santo has worked in agriculture since earning his Agricultural Science degree in 1982. Over the past four decades, he has held key roles in pest management with major agchem companies and as a consultant.
Since 2000, Peter has provided expert support across Australian horticultural industries, helping to improve pesticide access and promote low-risk, IPM-compatible solutions. He brings unparalleled experience and a collaborative approach, working closely with growers, consultants, industry bodies, and regulatory agencies.
Register here: VegNET Agrichemical Masterclass

Drip irrigation maintenance and monitoring – July 15 at Woorinen Recreation Reserve
2025-07-15 08:30 - 12:30 | Woorinen Recreation Reserve
Drip Irrigation Monitoring and Maintenance Course
Get the most out of your system and join Agriculture Victoria for a half day session on drip irrigation monitoring and maintenance aimed at maximising farm profitability and efficiency.
Please contact Adam Taylor on 0439 412 366 or email adam.j.taylor@agriculture.vic.gov.au for further information.
Correct_ Drip Course_Flyer July 2025

INTERPRETING SOIL MOISTURE MONITORING EQUIPMENT
2025-07-16 09:00 - 11:00 | Agriculture Victoria, Swan Hill, 324 Campbell Street, Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia
Agriculture Victoria, in conjunction with irrigation monitoring and management services company Green Brain (now owned by CropX), is offering a half day workshop for irrigators looking to have a greater understanding of interpreting their soil moisture monitoring data.
This workshop has been made available to Mallee irrigators for the least two years and has proved highly successful.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their login details and share their data with the group if appropriate.
Please contact Adam Taylor on 0439 412366 or email adam.j.taylor@agriculture.vic.gov.au for further information.
Correct_Soil Moisture Monitoring Workshop_Flyer July 2025 (002)

VIC: Pest & disease management workshop:Leafminer & white blister
2025-07-21 10:00 - 12:00 | RP Motors boardroom, 500 Duncan Rd, Werribee South, VIC, 3030, Australia
Join AUSVEG VIC and AUSVEG for a practical workshop on key pests & diseases in brassica crops.
On the agenda at the event:

Regional update & opportunities through VegNET from Daniel Bosveld (VegNET, AUSVEG VIC)
Seasonal update & leafminer chemical efficacy
Experiences in Gippsland managing leafminer with IPM strategies from Paul Horne (IPM Technologies)
New R&D on root-knot nematodesfrom Chantelle Girgan (Ag Vic Research)
How “Come Clean, Go Clean” practices are key to white blister management from Shakira Johnson (AUSVEG)

National Renewables in Agriculture Conference and Expo
2025-07-23 | The Capital Theatre, Bendigo, VIC, Australia
On-farm renewables are a valuable opportunity for farmers to cut costs and emissions.

This event brings together farmers, agriculture and energy consultants, peak bodies and Government representatives to share stories of on-farm renewables, their business case and discuss what’s driving the transformation of energy use in agriculture.
Large scale solar and wind developments present opportunities for farmers and regional communities if planned well with meaningful engagement around benefit sharing. These topics plus combining farming and solar, termed agrivoltaics, also forms part of the yearly Conference program.
