AUSVEG

Horticulture Standards Lunchtime webinar
2024-12-10 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Join Agriculture Victoria for an introduction to the Primary Production and Processing Standards for Berries, Leafy Vegetables and Melons.
The Standards set the minimum requirements for food safety and will come into effect for these industries on February 12, 2025.
Hear from:
SP Singh, NSW DPIRD
Learn about the key microbial food safety risks in primary production and processing in horticulture.
Shane Herbertson, Agriculture Victoria
Gain an understanding of what is required to comply with the Standards, including specific requirements for each industry, how Global Food Safety Initiative schemes will be recognised, and indicative costs.
Susannah Roelofsz, Fresh Produce Safety Centre
Details on where to access useful information and resources for fresh produce food safety best practice.

For more information, contact
food.safety@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Webinar: Lessons learnt from a career as a Farm Adviser
2024-12-17 13:30 - 14:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
David Harbison (D R Agriculture) will reflect on his experiences and pass on his thoughts of ‘key lessons’ he learnt in his younger days, and how those lessons set a path to where he is today. His passion for soil and plant science is a key strength.
That passion remains strong, as does his relationships with many professionals and soil scientists which are a constant resource for David and provide a connection to the current research. The value of those relationships is critical to “getting the best out of experts” and David encourages all soil scientists and experts listening to be open to helping our ‘next generation’. Social discussion is as important as the detail.
You MUST register to attend the FREE webinar and/or gain access to the recording if you are unable to attend on the day.

Webinar: Keep pests, weeds and diseases off your farm (Biosecurity)
2025-01-21 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Facilitated by Doris Blaesing
Are you a farmer, agronomist, field officer or have a stake in protecting Tasmania’s plant and animal industries? Join us for an interactive biosecurity webinar with the Government’s Chief Plant and Animal Health Officers for Tasmania, focused on preparedness and response when new pests or diseases are identified.
Farmers and Resilient Farming Tas Program participants have shared a lot with us over recent months, including topics of interest to them.
In response, we have been hosting an ongoing Tuesday Lunch and Learn Webinar Series. Timed for 45 minutes, the first half of the webinar will focus on a knowledge exchange, with an opportunity for you to then have a Q&A with the experts. These events are FREE to attend and will guide you through resources and tools available through the RFT Program.
All webinars have been recorded with access via the Google Classroom for participants.

Varroa Mite: The way forward for Queensland
2025-01-23 19:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Webinar
The next transition to management webinar for Queensland will be held online at 6 pm (AEST) on 23 January 2025. It will cover:

Innovation projects being led by the Varroa Mite Innovation and Resilience Program
Opportunities to support business continuity for Queensland beekeepers
Other types of support available to Queensland beekeepers

Webinar: Diversifying with agritourism - is it for me, and what's it all about?
2025-01-28 12:30 - 13:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Facilitated by Allison Clark
Agritourism has been identified as a priority across Australia to strengthen rural and regional economies. Agritourism is gaining popularity, and many farmers are diversifying into this sector. Many see that Tasmania can be the agritourism destination for Australia.
This Lunch & Learn session will help you learn more about why agritourism is an important part of Tasmania’s visitor economy and what visitors are looking for. You will learn more about what is important to consider knowing if it is an option for you.
Farmers and Resilient Farming Tas Program participants have shared a lot with us over recent months, including topics of interest to them.
In response, we have been hosting an ongoing Tuesday Lunch and Learn Webinar Series. Timed for 45 minutes, the first half of the webinar will focus on a knowledge exchange, with an opportunity for you to then have a Q&A with the experts. These events are FREE to attend and will guide you through resources and tools available through the RFT Program.
All webinars have been recorded with access via the Google Classroom for participants.

Share Your Insights - Shaping Research Priorities for Nematode Management
2025-02-11 11:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Hort Innovation Australia, in collaboration with AUSVEG and Impact Innovation, invites researchers to a focused workshop-style webinar aimed at identifying research gaps and driving future innovations in nematode management.
This is your opportunity to contribute your expertise, collaborate with peers, and help set the priorities for sustainable nematode management solutions that address real-world grower challenges.
Why Attend?

Influence Future Research: Your expertise will help shape the next phase of R&D investments in sustainable nematode management.
Collaborate with Peers: Engage with fellow researchers to identify critical gaps and opportunities in nematode control.
Drive Innovation: Contribute to solutions addressing challenges such as resistant nematode strains and sustainable biosecurity practices.

Webinar: Australia's new on-line Soil Resource Library
2025-02-14 13:30 - 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Where do you go for quality information on soils? Do you find it hard to find what you are looking for? Soil Science Australia might have the answer for you.
The Smart Soils resource library is helping farmers, their advisors and other land managers to access vital information to make informed decisions. Come and find out about the library and how you can contribute to the resource collection.

The resource library is part of Soil Science Australia’s ‘Smart Soils’ program, supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture program under the Natural Heritage Trust.

Webinar: Skills in Demand and National Innovation Visas
2025-02-17 14:00 - 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
As a part of reform measures outlined in the Migration Strategy, the Australian Government is introducing the National Innovation visa and changes to the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) (subclass 482) visa, which will be reformed and renamed as the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa.
The National Innovation Visa (NIV) will be a small, exclusive program with an increased focus on high-calibre talented migrants. The NIV is aimed at established and emerging leaders to ensure Australia attracts migrants from across the world who will help create jobs and drive investment in key sectors of the Australian economy.
The new Skills in Demand (SID) visa provides a streamlined pathway for skilled migrants, promoting worker mobility while offering a simple process for employers to access the skilled workers they need to help their businesses to grow.
The Department of Home Affairs invites you to attend an online information session to learn more about these new programs.

Webinar: 2023/24 Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook launch
2025-02-20 11:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
As the leading resource for Australian growers and horticulture enthusiasts, the Handbook provides insights into the trends and changes shaping the Australian horticulture industry during 2023-24.
With data covering 75 distinct categories, you’ll be given a guide on how to use the Handbook, as well as an overview of a wide range of topics, including:

Production volumes and values for fruit, vegetables, nuts, nursery, and turf
Changes to international trade patterns
Distribution of horticulture throughout the fresh supply chain

This project MT21006 has been funded by Hort Innovation, using research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government

Webinar: Internal Fruit Rot of Capsicum – Project summary
2025-02-20 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Join the SWICP team as we talk with the (VG17012) Internal fruit rot of capsicums project team. Dr Jenny Ekman, Dr Len Tesoriero, Dr Naomi Diplock and Ryan Hall will discuss the findings of management trials, disease surveys, and pathogenicity trials from the project and suggestions for the future.
Internal Fruit Rot of capsicums is an important disease in capsicum fruit. Caused by a number of fungal species the disease can remain hidden until it reaches to consumers, resulting in complaints and reductions in consumer confidence.

This webinar will cover the trials undertaken to identify the causal organisms in Australia, in-crop management trials ,and postharvest trials.
For more information please contact Ryan Hall on 0406 994 509 or ryan.hall@ahr.com.au from Applied Horticultural Research

Webinar: Agronomists, Share Your Insights - Industry Perspectives on Nematode Management
2025-02-25 13:00 - 14:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Hort Innovation Australia, in collaboration with AUSVEG and Impact Innovation, invites agronomists, extension officers, and supply chain partners (e.g. AgChem, Input Suppliers, etc.) across Australia to a workshop-style webinar exploring strategies to enhance the adoption and dissemination of effective nematode management practices.
This is your opportunity to share your insights, collaborate with peers, and help connect research outcomes and innovations with grower needs.
Why Attend?

Enhance Adoption: Contribute to strategies that ensure research outcomes are practical and accessible to growers.
Collaborate on Solutions: Share perspectives on bridging the gap between industry innovations and on-ground challenges.
Inform the Future: Help guide the development of impactful, region-specific nematode management solutions.

Webinar: On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot Update
2025-02-27 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Agriculture Victoria has been delivering the On-Farm Emissions Action Plan pilot as part of its commitment under the Agriculture Sector Emissions Reduction Pledge to provide practical information, tools and services to support farmers understand and reduce emissions. The team has been working with 250 farm business across Victoria to estimate their on-farm emissions profile and identify potential actions to manage and reduce emissions while maintaining productivity.
In this webinar the team will provide an update and share insights on the emissions pilot. The presentation will include agricultural industries and their key emissions sources and sinks, the emissions assessment process, actions that farmers can do now and some of the projects farmers have conducted following their emissions assessment and action plan. Pilot participant, Jonathan Jenkin will discuss his experience with the Pilot program and how they have used their action plan and knowledge of their emissions to make changes on the farm.

Webinar: Growers, Share Your Insights - On-Ground Challenges in Nematode Management
2025-03-04 17:00 - 18:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Hort Innovation Australia, in collaboration with AUSVEG and Impact Innovation, invites vegetable growers across Australia to a dedicated workshop-style webinar focusing on the challenges and needs of nematode management.
This is your chance to share your experiences, provide valuable input, and help shape practical strategies that reflect the realities of on-ground management.
Why Attend?

Share Your Experience: Ensure that your on-farm challenges and priorities are heard and addressed.
Grower-Focused Solutions: Help shape region-specific strategies that work for you.
Inform the Conversation: Contribute insights that will drive meaningful, sustainable approaches to nematode management.

Webinar: Bites & Insights - Being Prepared for Fall Armyworm (FAW)
2025-03-05 12:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Join VegNET Tasmania for a 30-minute webinar to get essential insights into Fall Armyworm (FAW), a major pest threatening Australia’s horticulture sector and beyond.
First detected in Far North Queensland in January 2020, FAW has since spread across QLD, NSW, WA, NT, and VIC, causing significant crop damage. Preferential crops include sweet corn, capsicum, beetroot, tomato, onion, cauliflower, lettuce, potato, maize, rice, sorghum, and wheat.
It is a declared pest in Tasmania and any sightings must be reported to Biosecurity Tasmania.
In this session, Tayla Field, VegNET Tasmania Regional Development Officer, will host a discussion with Dr. Ramesh Raj Puri, Extension Officer from QLD DPI, who has been working on Hort Innovation funded project: “National Fall Armyworm innovation system for the Australian vegetable industry”.
We’ll also hear from Veejay’s Kalfresh agronomist, John Nancarrow, who will share first-hand experiences on how FAW has affected crops and farm operations in Queensland’s Bowen growing region.
What you’ll learn:

Crop impacts seen in other regions
The importance of monitoring and early detection
How to visually identify FAW
FAW behaviour and peak activity periods
Useful resources available for growers

Don’t miss this opportunity to get informed and be prepared for any FAW incursions in Tasmania.

Bites & Insights are quick & engaging lunchtime webinars designed to deliver valuable knowledge in bite-sized sessions to Tasmanian vegetable growers and industry service providers — presented by VegNET Tasmania.

Webinar: Advanced Harvesting Technologies for Field Vegetables
2025-03-27 17:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Webinar
Join to hear from growers and technology manufacturers on the current developments in advanced vegetable harvesting solutions
AGENDA

5:00 PM – 5:10 PM AEST: VegMech Project background

5:10 PM – 6:00 PM AEST: Transforming vegetable harvesting – Grower & Manufacturer Perspectives

With:
Adam BALLAN – General manager – Fresh Select Pty Ltd
James ROME – Head of Agriculture – East Scotland Growers
Karl THOMAS – General manager – Automated Harvesting Solutions (AHS)

6:00 PM – 6:10 PM AEST: Technology pitches

Presentation of existing solutions followed by a Q&A

Skills Assessment Webinar featuring Science, Health & Agriculture Industry
2025-04-02 13:00 - 14:00 (Australia/Melbourne)
Join a live webinar series designed to help you navigate the skills assessment process for popular Science, Health and Agriculture Occupations: Pharmacy Technician and Microbiologist.
Who should attend: Potential Applicants, Migration Agents/Legal Practitioners
Date: Wednesday, 2 April 2025
Time: 1:00PM – 2:00PM Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)
Cost: AUD$70
Don’t miss out on these key takeaways from the webinar:

An insight into assessment criteria in our popular professional Science, Health and Agriculture industries.
Focusing on skills assessment process for Pharmacy Technician and Microbiologist roles, addressing common reasons for unsuccessful outcomes.
Updates on Priority Processing and Qualification Recognition Partnership
Live Q&A so bring your questions and our experts will answer your questions live.

Webinar: Agrifood opportunities in Vietnam
2025-04-16 12:00 - 12:45 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Understand the agriculture landscape in Vietnam. Get insights and updates from industry experts on the market opportunities and challenges, how to navigate them and how to succeed.
Hear how changing consumer trends and increasing middle-class affluence are creating opportunities for Australian agriculture in Vietnam.
Key topics

Agriculture opportunities in Vietnam
How to navigate market opportunities and challenges
Upcoming programs and events from Austrade

Who it’s for
Australian agrifood businesses looking to expand to Vietnam and the Southeast Asia region.

Webinar: Risky business – risk management 101
2025-04-29 12:00 - 13:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Let’s be real. Even though farming is who we are and what we do, there’s no doubt it’s a risky business to be in.
If your farm could talk what would it say about risk? From the weather, to production risks, finances, family succession, workplace health and safety, and staff – a potential risk is always just around the corner.
But what if there was a way to lower this risk? With the mindset to expect the unexpected, we can respond and pivot faster to anything life throws at us, building a stronger business along the way.
Join Rebecca Fing, from House Paddock Consulting for this three-part short course where she will guide you in a practical, down to earth way on how you might go about identifying your specific business risks and developing your plan B, C or even D!

Why is it important to manage risk.
How to identify risk in your business.
Knowing and improving your risk capacity & tolerance.
The role of business planning and communication in risk management.

Activity: Complete the Hort360 Risk Assessment.

SA: Regional Round Up
2025-04-30 17:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Bridgeport Hotel, 2 Bridge St, Murray Bridge, SA, Australia
AgTech Update: Tom McCue Biotechnology R&D Manager at Hort Innovation will provide an update on the AgTech space, Leadership & Study Tours.
Waterfind: A market update on South Australia’s water conditions, focusing on the River Murray.
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA): Hear from a representative of APVMA, who will provide key insights on regulatory processes and APVMA’s role in the industry.
Mellor Olsson: Legal insights on succession planning, Safework, IR issues and other key topics.
Complimentary dinner & drinks following speakers

Webinar: Tips & tricks to manage common risks in farming… including the ones you haven’t thought of!
2025-05-06 12:00 - 13:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Let’s be real. Even though farming is who we are and what we do, there’s no doubt it’s a risky business to be in.
If your farm could talk what would it say about risk? From the weather, to production risks, finances, family succession, workplace health and safety, and staff – a potential risk is always just around the corner.
But what if there was a way to lower this risk? With the mindset to expect the unexpected, we can respond and pivot faster to anything life throws at us, building a stronger business along the way.
Join Rebecca Fing, from House Paddock Consulting for this three-part short course where she will guide you in a practical, down to earth way on how you might go about identifying your specific business risks and developing your plan B, C or even D!

Business Risks – Financial viability, market risks
Infrastructure Risks – Aging infrastructure, extreme weather, water quality, environmental risks
Horticulture Operations Risks – Climate and biosecurity risks
Caring for Our Land – Land conditions, water security
People & Workforce Risks – WHS, key personnel, and family succession risks

Activity: Identify three-to-five things you can do immediately to improve these risks in your business. Consider three things you want more information about… bring them to the Q&A session.

Webinar: Chew the fat – Q&A session to support your next steps
2025-05-13 12:00 - 13:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Let’s be real. Even though farming is who we are and what we do, there’s no doubt it’s a risky business to be in.
If your farm could talk what would it say about risk? From the weather, to production risks, finances, family succession, workplace health and safety, and staff – a potential risk is always just around the corner.
But what if there was a way to lower this risk? With the mindset to expect the unexpected, we can respond and pivot faster to anything life throws at us, building a stronger business along the way.
Join Rebecca Fing, from House Paddock Consulting for this three-part short course where she will guide you in a practical, down to earth way on how you might go about identifying your specific business risks and developing your plan B, C or even D!

Sharing of changes that have been made – lets inspire each other.
Questions from the group for clarity or further information.

Webinar: Powerful Pollinators
2025-05-18 12:00 - 13:15 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
The Wheen Bee Foundation are hosting a FREE Webinar!
Join Lea Hannah Project Manager Powerful Pollinators, Dr Anna Carrucan, Second-generation beekeeper & botanist, ecologist & conservation agriculturalist and Dr Megan Halcroft from Bees Business, for a webinar to:

Find out how pollinators can play a role in healthy farm enterprises
Discover how to encourage pollinator populations on your property
Be introduced to our new planting guides and how they can be used on farm
Find out how to apply for tree grants that support pollinator habitat restorations

Webinar: Bee Friendly Farming: Understand Varroa's impact on Australian agriculture
2025-05-19 12:30 - 13:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
As the spread of Varroa mite continues to reshape the landscape for bees and pollination in Australia, understanding its potential long-term impacts is critical.
In this free Bee Friendly Farming webinar, industry experts will discuss Rabobank’s new report, How Varroa mites might impact Australian pollinators. Hosted by Wheen Bee Foundation CEO Fiona Chambers, the session will explore how the 2022 Varroa incursion may affect managed and wild honey bees and what this means for Australian agriculture and food systems.
Featured speakers include:

Stefan Vogel, Rabobank General Manager of RaboResearch Australia & New Zealand and author of the report
Danny Le Feuvre, CEO, Australian Honey Bee Council
Tim Jackson, CEO, Almond Board of Australia

Webinar: Optimising Trade for the Australian Vegetables Industry
2025-05-21 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
This 1-hour webinar will explore key findings from Vegetable and Onion levy-funded project MT24001 focused on understanding Australia’s vegetable export capabilities and how they stack up against global competitors. It will provide insights into where Australia can learn from others to streamline operations and boost export success in key markets.
As part of the webinar, participants will be introduced to market factsheets developed for six priority export destinations: Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Spain. These factsheets outline important considerations for exporters, offering foundational knowledge to support market entry and growth.
The project was delivered by KPMG and involved identifying opportunities for the Australian onion and vegetable industry in both existing and emerging export markets. KPMG conducted detailed analysis on logistics costs, supply chain management, and government support, benchmarking Australia’s performance against global competitors to highlight areas for improvement and opportunity.
The global trade landscape has shifted in the time between the final report and this webinar. As such, this webinar will include discussion around the recent USA trade policies and tariffs with a focus on the impacts for the Australian onion and vegetable industry.

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the Vegetable and Onion Fund research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

Season 2024 National Vegetable and Onion Benchmark Webinar
2025-07-09 13:00 - 14:00 (Australia/Melbourne)
The Level up Hort 2024 Season National Vegetable & Onion Benchmark Report is out — and the numbers speak volumes.
Join Planfarm and RMCG for a free webinar on Wed 9 July (1:00 pm AEST/ 12:30 pm ACST/ 11:00 am AWST) where they unpack the key benchmark findings and delve into the data to reveal implications for vegetable businesses, ongoing challenges, and how your business can move ahead with clarity.
For further information about Level Up Hort, or to download your copy of the 2024 Season Benchmark Report head to the Level Up Hort website, or contact project manager Steff Carstairs at 0428 712 852 for a chat.
Register your place here: Season 2024 National Vegetable and Onion Benchmark Webinar

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the Vegetable and Onion research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture. Project number MT22009

Webinar: National Soil Monitoring Program - What's happening
2025-07-16 13:30 - 14:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
The National Soil Monitoring Program (NSMP) is now underway and gathering momentum. We’ll describe details about the design, site locations, what’s happening on the ground, the types of data being collected, and how you can access this information.
Do you know of a location that could be a potential NSMP monitoring site? We’re also seeking feedback on how this data could be useful in your work to support land management decisions.

Webinar: Drones in Ag - current legislation & industry issues
2025-08-05 13:00 - 15:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Drones are increasingly becoming a valuable tool for modern farming, but with this technology comes a need to understand the rules. In this webinar Mark will take a practical look at what growers need to know before taking flight including:

A basic run down of drone legislation – where can I fly, do I need to register, what licensing (if any) do I need?
Herbicide spraying using drones – Risks vs Benefits
Flying over other people’s land, business and national forests
Flying drones under the influence of drugs/alcohol
Am I responsible for any breaches of legislation a contracted drone operator may make?
How quickly is drone technology evolving?

Leoni Kojetin, Industry Development Manager, Australian Macadamia Society

Drone spraying and growers – the benefits of aerial application, regulatory gaps, useful information, and what Macadamias are doing to advocate for farmers

Webinar: Working or employing in the Horticulture Industry – lessons from the FWO’s Horticulture Strategy
2025-08-13 16:30 - 17:15 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
The FWO’s Horticulture Strategy 2021 – 2024 aimed to enhance and promote compliance in the horticulture sector.
Join to learn about the key findings from the strategy and recent changes impacting the industry.
They will cover:

A summary of the key findings from the Horticulture Strategy
Changes to the Horticulture Award
Criminal Wage Theft Laws
Their dedicated Horticulture website

Intermediate level – this webinar is suitable for those with an existing understanding of the Fair Work system.

Webinar: Basin Plan Implementation Update
2025-08-14 11:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will be hosting a webinar to provide the latest updates on progress in implementing the Basin Plan.
The panel will include representatives from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Panel members will be available for a Q&A at the end of the presentation. They welcome your questions and encourage you to submit them in advance.

Webinar: Exploring Agritourism for Australian Growers
2025-08-14 14:00 - 15:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
With interest in unique tourism experiences on the rise, this one-hour webinar is designed for growers to explore how agritourism can diversify farm income streams, maximise farm assets, provide opportunities for value-adding, and build stronger connections with the community. Whether it’s farm-stays, agritourism experiences such a tours, pick-your-own models, retail outlet opportunities, or tourism partnerships, agritourism is a growing opportunity to diversify and future-proof your farm.
