AUSVEG

Workshop: Workplace Essentials (Caboolture)
2017-11-14 08:45 - 16:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Caboolture Hub, 4 Hasking St, Caboolture, QLD, 4510, Australia
Enrol now to attend a Workplace Essentials workshop and get the information and resources you need to boost your farm business’ health, safety and people management skills.
These workshops are being funded the Queensland Government and facilitated by the Queensland Agriculture Workforce Network (QAWN). They have been specifically tailored for farm managers, team leaders and supervisors and will include practical activities.
During the full day workshops, the following topics will be covered:
SESSION ONE: Workplace health and safety
• Update on Workplace Health and Safety laws and regulations
• WHS compliance checklist
• Understanding and managing risks and hazards
• When and how and to report incidents
• Overview of useful WHS services and resources available to businesses
SESSION TWO: People management
• Performance and behaviour management
• Handling conflict, bullying and difficult conversations in the workplace
• Supervisor responsibilities
• Update on workplace relations laws, regulations and programs
• Overview of further training and funding available
COST:
$30 per person – includes workshop, resources, morning and afternoon tea, and lunch.

Forum: Potato diseases and soilborne health (Forthside)
2017-11-14 14:00 - 16:30 (Australia/Hobart) | Forthside Vegetable Research Facility, 124 Forthside Rd, Forthside, TAS, 7310, Australia
Industry are invited to attend a forum to hear an international perspective on potato diseases and soilborne health issues. The forum will be held at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture’s Vegetable Research Facility at Forthside, and there is an opportunity for a field walk to learn more about a current biofumigation trial.
Speakers include:
Dr Bob Larkin from the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). Dr Larkin is a Research Plant Pathologist with a focus on the biological and cultural control of soilborne diseases of potato, disease-suppressive rotation crops, sustainable cropping systems, soil health, and soil microbial communities.
Professor Richard Falloon from the New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research. Professor Falloon has spent the last 25 years focussing on soilborne diseases, especially those caused by Spongospora subterranea, linking root infection with reduced potato plant productivity.
Associate Professor Calum Wilson from the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture. Assc Prof WIlson is a Plant Pathologist with more than 25 years experience working on potato diseases and his presentation will focus on recent advancements in tackling both powdery and common scab of potato.
For more information, see the event website.

Workshop: Biosecurity update (Bowen)
2017-11-14 14:30 - 17:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | QDAF Bowen, 45 Warwick Road, Bowen, QLD, 4805, Australia
As part of the VegNET project being delivered in Bowen, Gumlu and Far North Queensland by Bowen Gumlu Growers Association, a workshop is being held to provide local growers with updates in key biosecurity projects that are receiving investment from the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund.
This event will include two key speakers: Dr Paul Walker (TIA), discussing the TPP incursion in Western Australia and the strategic levy investment into surveillance efforts in South Australia and the eastern states; and Dr Jessica Lye (AUSVEG), providing an update on the newly launched strategic levy investment project preparing the industry for an incursion of vegetable leafminer into production areas.
Jessica Volker from Prospect Ag will also present at the workshop. For more information, please see the event flyer.
To register for this event, please click here.

ABARES Conference (Tamworth)
2017-11-15 | ibis Styles Tamworth, , 80-90 Ebsworth Street, Tamworth, NSW, 2340, Australia
Join ABARES at the Tamworth Regional Outlook conference on 15 November and hear from local producers, industry leaders and ABARES speakers at sessions exploring Innovation in agriculture – capturing the opportunities, Innovation in livestock enterprises and Growing crops and collaboration in a changing environment.
Bring your colleagues – it’s a great opportunity to update your industry knowledge, network with delegates and industry experts, discuss regional trends and opportunities, plus access the latest ABARES commodity forecasts and economic data.
This one day conference is free to attend, but pre-event registration is essential.
For more information, and to register for the event, please visit the ABARES website.

BFVG AGM and levy consultation (Bundaberg)
2017-11-17 14:15 - 16:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | BFVG, 23 Enterprise St, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670, Australia
As part of the Bundaberg Fruit & Vegetable Growers (BFVG) AGM and Christmas party, Hort Innovation is hosting information and Q&A sessions for the Avocado, Macadamia and Vegetable Funds.
Attendees will hear the latest updates on some key levy investments in the Funds from the people who are involved in the projects, and will also have the opportunity to ask Hort Innovation questions about their levy funds.
For more information on the levy consultations, please see the event flyer. For more information on BFVG events, including the AGM and Christmas party, please see its website.

Australian Organic Annual Awards for Excellence (Adelaide)
2017-11-17 18:30 - 22:30 (Australia/Adelaide) | National Wine Centre, Hackney Rd & Botany Rd, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
Join Australian Organic for their 30th anniversary at the Australian Organic Annual Awards for Excellence, being held this year at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide on Friday 17 November.
For more information, see the event website.

TropAg2017 (Brisbane)
2017-11-20 - 2017-11-22 | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Merivale St & Glenelg Street, Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia
TropAg2017 brings together the best in research and innovation across plant, animal and food sciences. TropAg2017 focuses on science and technology solutions across the agriculture and food supply chain, including technology and investment. Now incorporating the agricultural technology AgFutures conference, TropAg is held in Brisbane, Australia.
TropAg2017 is for anyone concerned with addressing the many challenges in tropical and sub-tropical agriculture and food production. The 2017 conference theme is “high impact science to nourish the world”, reflecting the critical role of science, technology and innovation to the many challenges facing tropical and sub-tropical agriculture and food production globally.
For more information, see the event website.

National Agriculture Day
2017-11-21 | TAS
National Farmers’ Federation President Fiona Simson and CEO Tony Mahar, along with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce, have launched the National Agriculture and Related Industries Day (AgDay).
To be held on 21 November 2017, AgDay will encourage all Australians to celebrate the nation’s farm sector and the work of our growers. For more information on National Agriculture Day, and to learn how to get involved, please see its website.

TIA National Agriculture Day panel
2017-11-21 17:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Hobart) | University of Tasmania, Churchill Avenue, Sandy Bay, TAS, 7005, Australia
The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) is marking the first-ever Australian National Agriculture Day with a panel discussion about the current state of Tasmania’s food and agriculture sectors and where they are heading into the future.
Leading experts from across the University of Tasmania will explore key topics like how consumers are influencing the way food is marketed and the politics of food, what the emerging trends in agricultural technologies are, and what the key pressures and opportunities are for the future of Tasmania’s agrifood sector.
There will also be opportunities for networking at the event, with the evening starting and concluding with drinks and refreshments. For more information, please see the TIA website.

Workshop: Workplace Essentials (Logan)
2017-11-22 08:45 - 16:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | TBA

Webinar: Soil and nutrition management
2017-11-22 12:30 - 13:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | TAS
Join an informative and interactive one-hour lunchtime session to get the latest updates from vegetable industry experts on healthy soil and correct nutrition management, which are essential to a productive vegetable business and protecting the natural environment. While the focus will be on nitrogen, the team can also answer your questions about other nutrients during the discussion.
The webinar, to be delivered by Dr Doris Blaesing (RMCG) and Andrew Shaw (AUSVEG), will offer a unique insight into how to manage vegetable soils and nutrition with a focus on environmental and economic sustainability. Growers Belinda Adams and David Anderson will also share the main benefits from being involved in the EnviroVeg program.
For more information on this webinar, please click here. To register for the webinar, please click here.
This session is being delivered as a collaboration between the Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection projects (delivered by RMCG and AHR) and the EnviroVeg program (delivered through AUSVEG in partnership with Growcom and Freshcare), which are strategic levy investments under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund.

Workshop: Hort Code of Conduct (Baldivis)
2017-11-22 17:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Perth) | Baldivis Market Gardens, 805 Eighty Rd, Baldivis, WA, 6171, Australia
The Horticulture Code of Conduct is set to be in full effect by April 2018, and it is important that all growers are informed as to their rights and obligations under the revised Code.
AUSVEG encourages Western Australian growers to attend one of the Code information sessions being held by vegetablesWA in the coming weeks, with vegetablesWA CEO John Shannon giving a presentation about Horticulture Produce Agreements (HPAs) and how they will affect grower dealings with wholesalers.
For more information, please see the vegetablesWA website. To RSVP for any of these events, please contact Sam Grubisa on 0427 373 037 or at sam.grubisa@vegetableswa.com.au.

Gippsland Women in Horticulture conference (Ellinbank)
2017-11-23 10:00 - 15:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | DEDJTR Ellinbank, 1301 Hazeldean Road, Ellinbank, VIC, 3821, Australia
The first-ever conference for Gippsland Women in Horticulture is being held to explore three dimensions of horticultural production: water, waste and wellness.
The morning session for the event will be devoted to individual speakers addressing the whole conference on issues of leadership, wellness and collaboration, with speakers including Nicole Griffin (Gippsland Water), Dr Nicola Watts (East Gippsland Food Cluster), Fiona Owen (Gippsland Women’s Health) and Jill Briggs (Rural Training Initiatives).
The afternoon session will be a great opportunity for group discussions on key areas of interest like irrigation, organics, biosecurity, mental health, leadership, innovation and the new generation of horticulture. These discussions will be facilitated by women with topic expertise, including AUSVEG National Manager – Science and Extension Dr Jessica Lye.
For more information, please see the event flyer. To register for the event, please see the event website.
Funding to facilitate this event has come through the VegNET project in East Gippsland as part of a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund. It is also being supported by the Commonwealth Bank, with attendees asked to contribute $30 per head to cover catering costs.

Workshop: Flood recovery (Bundaberg)
2017-11-23 12:00 - 15:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | Fairymead House, Thornhill Street, Bundaberg North, QLD, 4670, Australia
Farmers are encouraged to attend Queensland Farmers’ Federation’s (QFF) Flood Recovery Workshop to hear from technical recovery experts who can assist in getting you back on your feet.
Topics covered:

Natural disasters in Queensland
Agronomy
Soil science
Irrigation
Energy efficiency

QRIDA will be there on the day to discuss government assistance available to affected farmers.
For more information, see the event website.

Hort Innovation 2017 AGM (Tullamarine)
2017-11-24 | Mantra Tullamarine Hotel, 2 Trade Park Drive, Tullamarine, VIC, 3043, Australia
Planning has begun for Hort Innovation’s 2017 Annual General Meeting. For updates and all the latest information, please see the Hort Innovation website.

Workshop: Hort Code of Conduct (Wanneroo)
2017-11-28 17:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Perth) | Wanneroo Tavern, 18 Dundebar Rd, Wanneroo, WA, 6065, Australia

Tour de Bundaberg bus tour (Bundaberg)
2017-11-29 08:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | BFVG, 23 Enterprise St, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670, Australia
With a focus on sustainable agriculture, the leading ladies of Bundaberg agriculture are invited to join the BFVG on a bus tour of local farms who have implemented innovative farm practices to increase yield, productivity and profitability.
The tour will leave Bundaberg Fruit & Vegetable Growers (23 Enterprise Street, Bundaberg) at 8:00am and will return at approximately 4:00pm.
The day will include:

Guest speaker | Suzie Clarke, Bundy Food Tours
Guest speaker | Michelle Haase, VegNet Vegetable Industry Development Officer

Morning tea and Networking Lunch included
For more information, see the event website.

Workshop: Hort Code of Conduct (Myalup)
2017-11-29 17:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Perth) | Binningup Country Club, Lakes Parade, Binningup, WA, 6233, Australia

Seminar: Future of Australian farming (Hamilton)
2017-11-30 10:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | DEDJTR Hamilton, 915 Mt Napier Road, Hamilton, VIC, 3300, Australia
Rising input costs, climate impacts, labour shortage and lower returns make the enhancement of agricultural yields increasingly crucial. Using findings from their research across diverse markets and technologies, business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan will present the latest thinking, practices and technologies in highly productive farms from around the world.
Also showcasing an example of futuristic farming technology, Mitsui Chemicals Inc (MCI) will be presenting their iCAST™ (Integrated Cultivation-Accelerating System) and the results from their recent trials at the DEDJTR Hamilton Research Centre. The iCAST™ system is a cultivation system that aims to address all the key challenges faced by Australian farmers, including maximising crop and yield quality, minimising input use, and helping to reduce manual labour requirements.
To register for this event, please click here. For more information, e-mail Hanna Naquiah at hanna.naquiah@frost.com.

Workshop: Robotics field day (Richmond)
2017-12-01 12:00 - 14:30 (Australia/Sydney) | Greater Sydney Demonstration Farm, Gate 6 Southee Road, Richmond, NSW, 2753, Australia
Greater Sydney Local Land Services and the University of Sydney’s Australian Centre for Field Robotics invite growers and industry members to a demonstration of the Robot for Intelligent Perception and Precision Application (RIPPA).
Attendees will see the RIPPA operating on a lettuce crop at the Greater Sydney Demonstration Farm, demonstrating the machine’s current capabilities including independent weeding.
This workshop is part of a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund. For more information on the workshop, see the event flyer. To register to attend the event, please click here.

World of Perishables (Dubai)
2017-12-05 - 2017-12-07 | Dubai World Trade Centre, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Planetfair and Messe Essen present WOP DUBAI 2017, the only international trade expo for fresh fruit and vegetable marketing in the whole Middle East which focuses solely on the fresh produce industry.
WOP DUBAI 2017, or International Perishables Expo Middle East, has proven to be successful over many years. It is known as one of the most exciting and effective exhibition fairs in the Middle East, occupying the biggest venue in Dubai: the Dubai World Trade Center, or DWTC.
This is the only exhibition dedicated to the fresh produce industry in the Middle East. With its rapid growth, it has been recognized in the fresh produce industry as the key international trade event for business leaders, and is an excellent platform for fruit and vegetable sectors around the world to showcase innovative and fresh unique business concepts. This event brings together more than 6,000 visitors from 76 countries all over the world.
For more information, see the event website.

Webinar: Fusarium wilt management
2017-12-07 12:30 - 13:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | TAS
Learn about the latest techniques in managing the soilborne disease fusarium wilt in vegetable crops, including solanaceous vegetables, legumes, cucurbits and sweetpotatoes. Interact with leading vegetable pathologist Dr Len Tesoriero to understand the latest ways of managing this disease to keep your plants in production for longer and to improve yield and pack out rates.
For more information on this webinar, please click here. To register for the webinar, please click here.
This session is being facilitated through the Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection projects (delivered by RMCG and AHR), which are strategic levy investments under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund.

Workshop: Hort Code of Conduct (Gingin)
2017-12-12 17:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Perth) | TBA

Workshop: Water use & efficiency (Eudlo)
2017-12-19 12:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Djirang Plantation, 95 Mossybank Rd, Eudlo, QLD, 4554, Australia
The Flower Association of Queensland with Growcom, NGIQ and the QFF Energy Savers Program invite industry members to a field day about Water and Energy Efficiency for horticulture, nursery and floriculture. The free field day will provide a comprehensive insight to growers about ways in which they can monitor and improve their water and energy efficiency.
For more information, please see the QFF website.

Workshop: TPP update (Creswick)
2017-12-19 19:00 - 20:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | TAS
To help Victorian growers find out more about the behaviour, management and current situation of the recent tomato potato psyllid incursion in Western Australia, AUSVEG is partnering with a range of other industry organisations to deliver two workshops in major Victorian potato-growing regions. The event is open to all vegetable growers and any other interested stakeholders.
These workshops have been coordinated with Agriculture Victoria, the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture and ViCSPA, with support fromPlant Health Australia and Hort Innovation. A collection of speakers will help growers understand how the incursion impacts on the Victorian growing industry, and will include international expert Dr Steve Johnson, a potato crop specialist visiting ViCSPA from the University of Maine.
A free BBQ dinner and drinks will be provided following these workshops.
To RSVP for either of these events, please contact ViCSPA on 03 5962 0000 or at vicspa@vicspa.org.au. For more information, please see the event flyer.

Workshop: TPP update (Thorpdale)
2017-12-20 19:00 - 20:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Thorpdale Bowling Club, Council Rd, Thorpdale, VIC, Australia

Workshop: Sustainable Farm Families (Harrow)
2018-01-31 | Harrow Bush Nursing Centre, 24 Blair St, Harrow, VIC, 3317, Australia
The National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) coordinates the Sustainable Farm Family program to encourage farmers to view farm family health as part of the ‘triple bottom line’ of farm reporting.
These workshops aim to help farmers identify and track indicators of their family’s health and include these indicators in their far management to ensure the ongoing health, wellbeing and safety of their family. The program as a whole also aims to collect and provide information on the relationship between family health, health as a social issue in rural communities and farm productivity.
The NCFH is holding a series of workshops in late January and early February in Victoria. For more information, please see the NCFH website.

Workshop: Sustainable Farm Families (Wonwondah)
2018-02-01 | Grains Innovation Park, 110 Natimuk Rd, Horsham, VIC, 3400, Australia

Industry LDM - USA
2018-02-03 - 2018-02-17 | TAS
The 2018 United States Industry Leadership and Development Mission will visit leading vegetable growing operations, agribusinesses and the World Ag Expo in California, Arizona and Florida!
This mission will run from 3–16 February 2018 and is a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund, with participation only open to vegetable levy-paying growers.

Industry LDM - Europe
2018-02-05 - 2018-02-13 | TAS
The 2018 European Industry Leadership and Development Mission will visit Berlin Fruit Logistica, the world’s leading international meeting place for the fresh produce trade, as well as the global headquarters of a world-leading agribusiness!
This mission will run from 3–16 February 2018 and is a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund, with participation only open to vegetable levy-paying growers.
