AUSVEG

TAS: Devonport Know Your Grocery Code Training
2026-08-26 09:00 - 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Devonport, TAS, Australia
Want to find out how the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct can protect you as a grower?
AUSVEG is delivering the Know your Grocery Code program, proudly supported by the Australian Government. The training will be delivered across Australia from July 2026 through to March 2028.
The Know your Grocery Code training will:

Build your understanding of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct
Let you know your rights and protections under the Code
How you can use the Code to confidently negotiate with grocery businesses and secure a fairer deal when negotiating with large supermarkets

The training will be delivered online and in-person workshops across metropolitan, regional and rural areas and will be accessible to all fresh produce horticultural suppliers.
Training will be delivered by NextGen, Australia’s leading provider of Code training, working closely with industry peak bodies and regulators. Since 2022, NextGen has delivered negotiation training programs for horticulture growers across Australia, training more than 230 growers in 2024/25 alone
These training sessions will be delivered to the horticultural sector free-of-charge under the Know Your Grocery Code program

WA: Dowerin Machinery Field Day
2026-08-26 - 2026-08-27 | Dowerin District High School, Lot 35 Memorial Avenue, Dowerin, WA, 6461, Australia
The Dowerin Machinery Field Days provides a vital information highway and one stop shop for all farmers, primary producers, agricultural workers, and their families, in a community environment that encourages a unique engagement and connection with industry and commerce.

WA: Manjimup - Level Up Hort Roadshow
2026-08-25 14:00 - 17:00 (Australia/Perth) | Manjimup Wellness Centre, 1a Edwards Street, Manjimup, WA, 6258, Australia
Costs are high, inputs are tight, and the goalposts keep moving. The Level Up Hort Roadshow is delivering a short and sharp session in a region near you, focused on where you can build margin back into your business.
The benchmark data shows us where profit is built and eroded in vegetable businesses, and unless you look at your numbers closely, you may not see what you’re leaving on the table.
Join as they walk through the four main profit drivers and turn insights into action, powerful solutions, and how to apply them to your own business. No numbers shared in the room, no judgement, just a clearer picture of where your margin is bleeding out, and what to do about it.

SA: Smarter Irrigation for the Limestone Coast & surrounds
2026-08-25 12:30 - 16:00 (Australia/Adelaide) | Wulanda Leisure Centre, 7 Margaret Street, Mount Gambier, SA, 5290, Australia
This speaker series in Mt Gambier SA is catered toward local growers including Western Victoria, addressing current challenges in the potato industry. Stephanie Tabone will facilitate the day, inviting guest speakers including Sam Work (Limestone Coast Water Alliance), Tom Jefferies (Thomas Elder Sustainable Agriculture), and Daniel Sutton (Vegetables NZ). Hear what they have to share from their experiences with agriculture and the potato industry accompanied by a complimentary midday lunch and afternoon tea.
Topics include

Irrigation system design: Consider how local geographical and environmental conditions inform an efficient irrigation system

Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI): What is it? Is it the best option for your context? What data sources do you need to set up VRI and maintain its effectiveness?

TPP & CLso insights from NZ: Learn from how New Zealand has managed Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP) and Zebra Chip disease (CLso) through monitoring, identification and IPM.

TAS: Launceston Know Your Grocery Code Training
2026-08-25 09:00 - 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Launceston, TAS, Australia

SA: Preparedness Workshop - Daniel Sutton Workshop on TPP and CLso Management
2026-08-24 14:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Adelaide) | Virginia Horticulture Centre, 942 Old Port Wakefield Rd, Virginia SA 5120, 942 Old Port Wakefield Rd, Virginia, South Australia, 5120, Australia
Join us for an interactive workshop with Daniel Sutton from Vegetables NZ and learn about New Zealand’s experience managing Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP) and Zebra Chip disease caused by Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso). Drawing on New Zealand’s firsthand experience, Daniel will share practical insights from NZ into the impacts of TPP and CLso on the potato industry, the lessons learned following their establishment, and the management strategies that have been developed to support growers.
This workshop will provide an opportunity to hear directly from Daniel, ask questions, and discuss how the Australian potato industry can strengthen its preparedness for these significant biosecurity threats.
Light lunch provided on arrival, afternoon tea provided.

National Biosecurity Week 2026
2026-08-24 - 2026-08-30 | Tasmania
National Biosecurity Week 2026 will be held from 24 to 30 August 2026.
National Biosecurity Week serves as an important reminder of the critical role biosecurity plays in protecting our environment, agricultural industries, food supply, communities and overall economy.

By raising awareness and advocating for the adoption of good biosecurity practices, National Biosecurity Week strives to strengthen our biosecurity system for the benefit of all Australians.

While Australia has robust and rigorous biosecurity measures in place to mitigate these biosecurity risks, exotic pests, diseases and harmful weeds can and do occasionally enter the country. This annual event highlights the collaborative efforts of government, industry, peak bodies and the community in protecting the Australian way of life.

NT: Agronomy Australia Conference 2026
2026-08-24 - 2026-08-28 | Charles Darwin University, NT, Australia
The Australian Society of Agronomy’s 2026 conference in Darwin on August 24–28 will have a special focus on agronomy in horticulture.
The conference theme, ‘Agronomy for a Diverse Future’, will involve showcasing the diversity of crops, farming systems, technologies, landscapes, and knowledge shaping the agricultural sector, highlighting innovation, resilience, and inclusion.
The conference will be held at Charles Darwin University’s newly opened CBD Danala Campus, followed by a range of unique industry tours where delegates will experience northern Australian developments, including mango farms during harvest, the NT’s horticultural giants and broadacre crop research underway at leading facilities.
This is the first time that the biennial gathering will be held in northern Australia and is an important opportunity for agronomy leaders, farmers, researchers and industry personnel to meet, network and share the latest science and best practice.

Webinar: Woolworths Scan data (Quantium) Vegetable - session 3: How to use for business decisions
2026-08-21 14:00 - 14:45 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
A new vegetable industry dashboard is giving growers direct access to Woolworths retail scan data and shopper insights through Quantium.
For the first time, growers can get a clearer view of what’s happening in-store – including sales performance, shopper behaviour, price response, and which products or packs are driving growth.
The dashboard uses the same underlying data trusted by major grocery companies, customised to make it easier to navigate and more relevant for the vegetable industry.
It is designed to help answer practical questions growers ask every day:

Why are my sales up or down?
Are shoppers responding to price or pulling back?
Which products and packs are actually driving growth?

Whether or not you currently supply Woolworths, the data can help you better understand market trends, prepare for category conversations and make more informed business decisions.
To help you get started, Hort Innovation and Quantium are running a short three-part online series showing how to move from viewing the data to using it in real business and category conversations:

Session 1: Getting started – gain an introduction to the project, learning how to register, and access the data – Friday 24 July, 2:00–2:30pm AEST – Registration Link
Session 2: Using the data in Woolworths category conversations, including examples using the dashboard Friday 31 July, 2:00–2:45pm AEST – Registration Link
Session 3: Using the data to support decisions in your business, including examples using the dashboard Friday 21 August, 2:00–2:45pm AEST – Registration link

Growers are encouraged to join all three sessions, even if you’re not sure yet how you’ll use the data. It’s a practical introduction to what’s available and how to start exploring it.
Learn more about the Quantium scan tracking FY25/26 project, including registration for the dashboard here.
This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using vegetable and onion research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government.

QLD: HACCP Foundations for Fresh Produce
2026-08-21 09:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Horticulture House, 255 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670, Australia
This practical, course provides an introduction to the application of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) in the fresh produce sector.
Designed for growers, operators, packers, and staff working in fruit and vegetable businesses, the training is ideal for anyone involved in the growing, harvesting, packing, or despatch of fresh produce for retail sale.
The program also meets producer training requirements under the HARPS Standard, helping businesses stay compliant while building food safety knowledge and confidence.
Why choose this training?

Delivered by Kylie Jackson, approved training partner of Quality Associates (RTO No. 41341)
Recognised national competencies on successful completion:
FBPFSY3002 – Participate in a HACCP Team

SA: PREDICTA Pt workshop
2026-08-20 09:00 - 15:30 (Australia/Adelaide) | Plant Research Centre, 2B Hartley Grove, Urrbrae, SA, 5064, Australia
The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) will be holding a training and accreditation course on PREDICTA Pt.
The course will be available to agronomists, potato growers and processors wishing to use or deliver the DNA diagnostic testing service for soil-borne pathogens of potatoes.
Location: 2B Hartley Grove, Urrbrae, South Australia
Date: Thursday, 20 August 2026
Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
The course will cover the strategies and processes to sample paddocks, along with the interpretation of PREDICTA Pt results. For each pathogen included in the PREDICTA Pt service, the following will be provided:

Information on symptoms and basic biology
The importance of inoculum and factors conducive to disease
An overview of possible management strategies.

Participants will be provided with a manual that covers the information presented and a soil corer for PREDICTA Pt sampling. There is a fee for the course.
Registration Essential: For further information and to register your interest in the workshop, please contact Michael Rettke at michael.rettke@sa.gov.au by Monday, 10 August 2026.
Download the registration form here.

FarmX 2026
2026-08-20 | Deloraine Showgrounds, Highland Lakes Rd, Deloraine, Tasmania, 7304, Australia
The theme for FarmX 2026, Sustainability & Innovation Across Every Acre, reflects the shared challenge and opportunity facing agriculture today, how to build productive, resilient farms while caring for the land, resources, and communities that sustain them.
This year’s program focuses on practical innovation and sustainable approaches that can be applied across all farming systems. From livestock and cropping to horticulture, environmental management, and emerging technologies, FarmX 2026 highlights ideas that support long-term farm viability without excluding any sector or scale of operation.
FarmX is designed for farmers, built with community, and focused on the future. Whether you’re exploring new practices, looking for smarter ways to improve efficiency, or wanting to understand what’s coming next for agriculture, FarmX 2026 is a place to learn, connect, and take away insights that matter on-farm.

Webinar: Get RIC Ready
2026-08-19 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Join the free Get RIC Ready webinar to understand if a RIC low interest loan is right for you and get prepared to apply, so you can take the next step with confidence.​
The Get RIC Ready webinar is an essential session to help farm businesses, advisers and interested stakeholders understand RIC loans, eligibility requirements and how to apply. Learn more about RIC loans including the new Drought Hardship Loan and the Marine Recovery Loan.​
Our RIC Agri Lending specialists and expert panellists will lead the session and provide practical insights and answers to common questions covering:​

Understanding your options​
Learn about which RIC loan may be right for you and how our low interest loans may support your business to manage financial pressure, recover from disruption and plan ahead.​
Get clear on eligibility before you apply​
Understand the key eligibility requirements, such as what we mean by financial need, having commercial debt or ability to obtain commercial debt, adequate security and the ability to service the loan.​
Be prepared early and apply with confidence​
Know what information you’ll need, why you need to talk to your commercial lender early and how to get your application ready.​
Build confidence to take the next step​
Gain the knowledge to decide if a RIC loan may be right for you and how to move forward.​

NSW: Richmond Know Your Grocery Code Training
2026-08-19 08:30 - 16:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Hawkesbury Race Club, Racecourse Rd, Richmond, NSW, 2753, Australia

Webinar: Crop & Connect - Mental Health Conversations
2026-08-17 11:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Webinar
Presented by Daniel McCullough, Pharus Wellbeing this webinar is structured to support Ag Leaders.
Discussions and Insights
Mental health made simple
Straightforward, practical information on mental health.
Connect with confidence
Simple ways to check in without making it weird.

Recognise the signs
Gain the Confidence to say something when it matters
To support a practical and relevant discussion, registrants are invited to submit two questions at registration, with selected questions addressed live during the webinar.
Registration is optional, but if you’d like to receive follow-up support after the webinar, registering will ensure you get it.

QLD: Freshcare Food Safety & Quality Training
2026-08-14 09:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Horticulture House, 255 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670, Australia
Most fresh produce suppliers and customers now require growers to be certified against a recognised food safety program. Achieving certification not only meets market demands but also demonstrates your commitment to delivering safe, high-quality produce.
Since 2017, Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers (BFVG) has supported local producers by delivering Freshcare training – Australia’s leading on-farm assurance program for fresh produce.
To meet audit requirements, each participating business should ensure at least one representative has successfully completed Freshcare training.
Why complete Freshcare training?

Gain a clear understanding of the Freshcare Code of Practice and program requirements
Learn how to apply the Code to your specific business operations
Understand what needs to be implemented on-farm and in your systems to achieve and maintain certification

By completing Freshcare training with BFVG, you’re equipping your business with the knowledge and confidence to meet compliance standards, strengthen customer trust, and maintain access to key markets.

NSW: Bathurst Know Your Grocery Code Training
2026-08-12 09:00 - 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Panthers Bathurst, Piper St, Bathurst, NSW, 2795, Australia

NSW: National Renewables in Agriculture Conference and Expo
2026-08-12 | The Greenhouse, 231-243 Anson St, Orange, NSW, 2800, Australia
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.

Arendalsuka Norway
2026-08-10 - 2026-08-14 | Tasmania
Norway’s largest political and societal arena, with several events and debates focused on food security, sustainable agriculture and agrifood tech innovation.

VIC: Shepparton Know Your Grocery Code Training
2026-08-07 09:00 - 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Shepparton, Australia

VIC: Melbourne Know Your Grocery Code Training
2026-08-05 09:00 - 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | AUSVEG offices, Level 2, 273 Camberwell Rd, Camberwell, VIC, 3124, Australia

Webinar: Official Launch of the VegMech Technology Catalogue
2026-08-04 17:00 - 18:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
The Australian vegetable industry is undergoing significant transformation. Automation and mechanisation are reshaping how farms operate. However, with so many technologies emerging globally, and specifications to compare, it can be hard for growers and industry stakeholders alike, to know where to start.
That’s exactly why the VegMech Technology Catalogue was developed—a comprehensive, easy-to-navigate resource created through the VegMech program to bring together automated and mechanised field machinery solutions for the Australian vegetable industry.
Whether you manage a small family farm or large-scale operation or work in research, agribusiness, or technology development, the catalogue is designed to save you time and support smarter, more informed decisions.
The catalogue provides a clear picture of the current technologies relevant to Australian vegetable production, identified through the VegMech program as potential solutions to the labour and crop input cost challenges facing the Australian vegetable industry.
Here’s what you’ll find inside:

Technology overviews and technical details, giving you a practical understanding of features and capabilities before connecting with suppliers

Manufacturer information and supporting resources, including case studies and additional materials, to provide further context on each technology
Business details and supplier contacts, so you have everything you need to connect, collaborate or advise with confidence

Webinar: Woolworths Scan data (Quantium) Vegetables & Onion - session 2: How to use with Woolworths
2026-07-31 14:00 - 14:45 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar

Webinar: Employing Workers from the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste
2026-07-28 11:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
The Department of Home Affairs, through its Business, Industry and Regional Outreach (BIRO) network, would like to invite you to attend upcoming free information sessions on employing overseas working within the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) stream and the Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV). These sessions are open to any business or organisation who would like information on visa options for employing an overseas workers from the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste.
The PALM is a temporary residence visa available for eligible citizens of participating Pacific countries and Timor-Leste. The PALM scheme is an employer sponsored visa for unskilled, low-skilled and semi-skilled positions. This visa allows eligible businesses to recruit workers for short-term jobs for up to 9 months or long-term roles for between one and 4 years. The PALM scheme helps to fill labour gaps in rural and regional Australia and nationally for agriculture and select agriculture-related food product manufacturing sectors.
The PEV is a permanent residence visa available for eligible citizens of participating Pacific countries and Timor-Leste. The PEV is not an employer sponsored visa however applicants need an offer of ongoing employment for a genuine position in Australia to be granted the visa. PEV holders can live and work anywhere in Australia in any occupation.
The BIRO network invites employers to attend a webinar to learn more about the PALM and PEV programs.
The Department of Employment and Workforce Relations (DEWR) will be in attendance to provide an overview on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFaT) will be in attendance to provide an overview on the Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) Support Service.
These webinars will provide information on visa products and there will be an opportunity for questions with subject matter experts following the presentations.

New Zealand Horticulture Conference
2026-07-28 - 2026-07-29 | Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, New Zealand
This year marks a new era. The individual Horticulture Conference and RSE Conference have now come together as one unified event: The New Zealand Horticulture Conference.
By bringing both audiences together, this combined national conference creates a single powerful platform for growers, industry leaders, researchers, employers, and policymakers to connect, collaborate, and shape the future of horticulture in Aotearoa.
Join for two days of insights, innovation, and industry‑wide conversation as they focus on building a stronger, more sustainable sector—together.
One event. Two days. One strong industry voice.

Hort IQ Webinar: What cost-of-living pressures mean for fresh produce
2026-07-27 11:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
As Australians continue to adapt to cost-of-living pressures, the way they shop for fresh produce is evolving. Understanding these shifts can help growers and industry make more informed decisions about demand, pricing, marketing and future opportunities.
Join Hort Innovation’s Consumer Insights team and Fiftyfive5 for the next Hort IQ webinar, where we’ll translate the latest consumer and retail insights into practical takeaways for the horticulture sector.
Here’s what’s on the agenda:

🛒 How shopping behaviours, channels and value perceptions are changing
📈 What these shifts could mean for demand and category growth
💡 Key opportunities and actions for growers and industry

2026 Australian Women in Agriculture National Conference
2026-07-27 - 2026-07-29 | Tasmania
This gathering will bring together farmers, industry leaders, and community voices for two days of collaboration, inspiration, and forward‑thinking discussions.
Banksia, Orange, NSW

Webinar: Quantium for Vegetables - Intro session 1
2026-07-24 14:00 - 14:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar

Webinar: Water Act Review Discussion Paper
2026-07-24 10:30 - 11:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Join Mr Geoff Leeper, Independent Reviewer, for a webinar on the Water Act Review Discussion Paper. Mr Leeper will be joined by Dr Teagan Shields, First Nations Advisor, and senior executives from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
The webinar will provide an overview of the Discussion Paper, including the key issues under consideration as part of the review. Participants will also hear about the review process, submission opportunities, and key timelines, and will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the review team.
To help inform the discussion, they encourage participants to submit questions in advance. Questions can be emailed to wateractreview@dcceew.gov.au.
This webinar will be recorded and made available on our website following the event.

Soil Wealth Masterclass 2026
2026-07-21 - 2026-07-22 | Tasmania
The SWICP Regen Ag Masterclass is designed for growers and advisers already exploring or implementing practice change within vegetable production systems.
The Masterclass is not designed as an introductory regenerative agriculture workshop. Rather, the focus will be on practical implementation, challenges, lessons learnt and identifying realistic next steps within commercial production systems.
The Masterclass will be discussion-based and focused on peer learning and practical application. We encourage sharing experiences from within participants’ own farming operations and advisory contexts. Presenters will cover important aspects of regen ag in vegetable production. There will be an afternoon of farm visits to nearby Cranbourne operations to showcase practices in real life.
Participants should be comfortable contributing to facilitated group discussions and peer learning activities across the two-day program.
Previous SWICP masterclass participants have found these sessions practical and useful, particularly the opportunity to chat to experts.
The masterclass is free (courtesy of your levies) and includes field visits, catering during the masterclass and an evening meal on day 1 (Tuesday). You will need to arrange your own travel and accommodation.
