AUSVEG

Food extrusion and leafminer workshop (Tyabb)
2018-03-28 15:30 - 17:00 UTC | Taranto Farms, 57 The Crescent, Tyabb, VIC, 3913, Australia
re you interested in how to turn vegetable waste into nutrient-dense, value-added products that can help supplement your business’s profitability, or how to protect against the vegetable leafminer?
As part of the levy-funded VegNET program being delivered in northern, western and south-eastern Victoria, a workshop is being held by AUSVEG, CSIRO and RMCG to show growers the latest in food extrusion technology and walk industry members through a mock surveillance exercise designed to prepare for the arrival of vegetable leafminer.
The workshop will include:

An introduction to the vegetable leafminer, where it is found, the damage it causes and how to protect against it, with a mock surveillance exercise (Dr Jessica Lye, AUSVEG)
An extrusion demonstration of broccoli and carrot, where participants will see, touch and taste crops that have been turned into snack products and discuss opportunities for value added products within their businesses (Dr Danyang Ying, CSIRO)

A flyer for this workshop has been produced if you know anyone in your networks who would be interested in attending.
For more information about the partnership program for control, eradication and preparedness for vegetable leafminer in Australia, take a look at the project page on the Plant Health Australia website.
The VegNET program and CSIRO food extrusion technology for the vegetable industry are both strategic levy investments under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund.

The strategic levy investment project RD&E program for control, eradication and preparedness for vegetable leafminer (MT16004) is a part of the Hort Innovation Vegetable and Nursery Funds. This project has been funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable and nursery research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

Chemical handling workshop (Bishopbourne)
2018-03-28 08:30 - 2018-03-29 16:30 (Australia/Hobart) | TBC
VegPRO’s face-to-face courses are designed for the vegetable industry to raise awareness of the potential hazards and risks of chemicals and how to apply them safely.
This course includes safe chemical handling, storage and transport as well as safe application of chemicals using correct personal protective equipment and understanding chemical labels. This course includes ACCHM303 Prepare and Apply Chemicals and ACHM304 Transport and Store Chemicals.
For more information, see the EventBrite page.

Hort Code workshop (Humpty Doo)
2018-03-27 12:00 - 13:30 (Australia/Darwin) | Humpty Doo Golf Club, 565 Pioneer Drive, Humpty Doo, NT, 0836, Australia
Do you know how the new Horticulture Code of Conduct applies to you? How do you make sure your business is compliant?
If you are a grower who sells produce you need to understand the Code and your obligations under the Code. VegPRO, the vegetable industry’s own national training program, is coordinating free workshops in the Northern Territory and Victoria to help Australian vegetable growers understand how the new Horticulture Code of Conduct will affect their businesses.
These workshops will cover key information growers need to ensure they are conducting their business in compliance with the new Code, including:

An overview of the Code
The types of trading arrangements covered by the Code
Understanding the paperwork and record keeping required under the Code
And a chance to ask questions.

A Vietnamese translator will be available for this event.
These sessions will be presented by Jill Briggs and Jacqueline Sutherland from Horticulture Code Consultants, and are free for vegetable industry members as part of a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund.
For more information, see the event website.

Hort Code workshop (Coolalinga)
2018-03-27 08:30 - 10:00 (Australia/Darwin) | NT Farmers Office, 460 Stuart Highway, Coolalinga, NT, 0839, Australia
Do you know how the new Horticulture Code of Conduct applies to you? How do you make sure your business is compliant?
If you are a grower who sells produce you need to understand the Code and your obligations under the Code. VegPRO, the vegetable industry’s own national training program, is coordinating free workshops in the Northern Territory and Victoria to help Australian vegetable growers understand how the new Horticulture Code of Conduct will affect their businesses.
These workshops will cover key information growers need to ensure they are conducting their business in compliance with the new Code, including:

An overview of the Code
The types of trading arrangements covered by the Code
Understanding the paperwork and record keeping required under the Code
And a chance to ask questions.

These sessions will be presented by Jill Briggs and Jacqueline Sutherland from Horticulture Code Consultants, and are free for vegetable industry members as part of a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund.
For more information, see the event website.

HARPS workshop (Canning Vale)
2018-03-27 08:00 - 10:00 UTC | Perth Markets, 280 Bannister Rd, Canning Vale, WA, 6155, Australia
The Harmonised Australian Retailer Produce Scheme (HARPS) harmonises the additional food safety, legal and trade requirements developed by the major Australian chain retailers into a single scheme. Certification to a recognised base scheme (such as Freshcare, GLOBALG.A.P. or SQF) plus HARPS is now accepted by the five chain retailers, eliminating the need for duplication and unnecessary costs.
If you want to know more about HARPS, if your business requires HARPS approval, how to implement HARPS, how to register your interest in HARPS or where you can get additional support and guidance, a series of workshops are being held around Australia to help you get the information you need.
For growers in other regions, a pre-recorded webinar will be available on the HARPS website.
If you have any questions about HARPS, please call 1300 852 219 or e-mail harps@harpsonline.com.au.

HARPS workshop (Bunbury)
2018-03-26 14:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Perth) | DPIRD Bunbury, 1 Verschuer Place, Bunbury, WA, 6230, Australia

Chemical handling workshop (Devonport)
2018-03-26 08:30 - 2018-03-27 16:30 UTC | TBC

Hort Code workshop (Maffra)
2018-03-22 13:00 - 14:30 UTC | TBC

HARPS workshop (Gatton)
2018-03-22 12:30 - 14:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | QDAF Gatton, Warrego Highway, Lawes, QLD, 4343, Australia

Biosecurity webinar
2018-03-22 12:30 - 13:30 UTC
Plant biosecurity is a series of measures that aid in protecting production areas from harmful insects, weeds, and various plant diseases. On-farm biosecurity best practices play a pivotal role in maintaining Australia’s reputation of producing high quality products.
To help you better understand on-farm biosecurity and how to implement practices on your farms that can protect you from damaging incursions, the levy-funded VegNET program is hosting a free webinar with industry experts for vegetable growers.
This webinar will feature Dr Jessica Lye (AUSVEG), Greg Owens (NT Farmers) and growers speaking about what you should do to protect your farm through good hygiene and biosecurity management.
To register for this webinar, click here.
Growers interested in learning more about biosecurity can also watch a VegNET video about cucumber green mottle mosaic virus in the Northern Territory and the biosecurity lessons learnt from the response to this virus.
If you’re interested in learning more about projects currently being delivered to support the Australian vegetable industry’s biosecurity, visit the biosecurity and crop protection section of our website.

Hort Code workshop (Lindenow)
2018-03-22 08:30 - 10:00 UTC | TBC

Exporting vegetables workshop (Pooraka)
2018-03-22 08:00 - 11:00 (Australia/Adelaide) | South Australian Produce Markets, Burma Rd, Pooraka, SA, 5095, Australia
AUSVEG SA will be hosting a workshop at the South Australian Produce Markets for growers who are interested in learning more about the export process and how to become export-ready.
The workshop is targeted at levy-paying vegetable growers that want to know more about how to commence exporting and identify export markets, and who are just starting out or looking to move into exporting and want to understand what is involved.
The workshop will be facilitated by experienced trainers from the Export Council of Australia with vegetable industry support from AUSVEG and AUSVEG SA.
The workshop will cover:

Are you ready to start exporting?
What resources are available to growers to assist them commence exporting.
Which export markets to target, and where you can and can’t export to.
Pricing for export.
Free Trade Agreements and how to use them.

With a maximum capacity of 12 participants, secure your place now by contacting Jordan Brooke-Barnett on 0404 772 308 or email jordan.brooke-barnett@ausveg.com.au.
This project is part of a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund and is being delivered with the support of AUSVEG’s export development team.

HARPS workshop (Bundaberg)
2018-03-21 16:00 - 18:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Rowers in the River, 2 Toonburra St, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670, Australia

Hort Code webinar
2018-03-21 12:30 - 13:30 UTC
Do you know how the new Horticulture Code of Conduct applies to you? How do you make sure your business is compliant?
If you are a grower who sells produce you need to understand the Code and your obligations under the Code. VegPRO, the vegetable industry’s own national training program, is working with the VegNET program to deliver a free webinar for vegetable growers covering:

An overview of the Horticulture Code of Conduct
Areas of the Code relevant to vegetable growers
The obligations of growers and traders under the Code
Fines under the Code
Record-keeping requirements and Horticulture Produce Agreements

This webinar will be presented by Jill Briggs and Jacqueline Sutherland from Horticulture Code Consultants, and is free for vegetable industry members as part of a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund. To register for this webinar, click here.
If you have any questions, get in touch with Carl Larsen at carll@rmcg.com.au, Jill Briggs at jill@horticulturecodeconsultants.com.au or Jacqueline Sutherland at jacqueline@horticulturecodeconsultants.com.au.

HARPS workshop (Brisbane)
2018-03-21 10:00 - 11:00, 2018-03-21 09:00 - 10:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Brisbane Markets, 385 Sherwood Rd, Rocklea, QLD, 4106, Australia

HARPS workshop (Bowen)
2018-03-20 11:30 - 13:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | QDAF Bowen, 45 Warwick Road, Bowen, QLD, 4805, Australia

Workshop: Labour access focus group (Myalup)
2018-03-14 17:00 - 18:30 UTC | Binningup Country Club, Lakes Parade, Binningup, WA, 6233, Australia
vegetablesWA will be coordinating labour supply focus groups in mid-March to help growers contribute to a new report about Australia’s labour laws and visa options.
The focus groups will be attended by Dr Joanna Howe, Associate Professor in Law at the University of Adelaide, and Alex Reilly, Professor in Law at the University of Adelaide. Dr Howe will be asking growers for their views on Australia’s labour laws and visa options and how these affect growers’ businesses, with this information to be used in a report that will be used by the horticulture industry to lobby the government for better labour supply options.
As well as Dr Howe and Mr Reilly, these focus groups will also be attended by vegetablesWA CEO John Shannon and vegetablesWA Vietnamese Industry Extension Officer Truyen Vo.
For more information, see the vegetablesWA website.
If you’re interested in attending this event, contact Christina Ford by Friday 9 March 2018 at christina.ford@vegetableswa.com.au.

Negotiations and influencing course (Bundaberg)
2018-03-14 - 2018-03-15 | Fairymead House, Thornhill Street, Bundaberg North, QLD, 4670, Australia
VegPRO is bringing its free two-day negotiations and influencing workshop to Bundaberg, Queensland as part of the VegNET program being delivered by Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers.
VegPRO is a strategic levy investment project under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund that is delivering targeted, tailored training for Australian vegetable growers. In this course, industry members who deal with people on a day-to-day basis (whether it be with customers, staff, transport and logistics companies or anyone else) can learn a wide range of useful skills, including:

increased confidence and effective communication;
managing emotional and difficult conversations;
controlling and influencing conversation to get better pricing outcomes;
preparing effectively to combat pushes from buyers; and
identifying other people’s tactics and having a strategy for responses.

Dates: 14-15 March 2018
Location: Fairymead House, Thornhill St, Bundaberg QLD
This workshop is a valuable initiative that has previously been delivered in other growing regions, including Gatton in Queensland and at the South Australian Produce Market. BFVG Vegetable Industry Development Officer Michelle Haase has written a great blog post on the workshop and what it can offer growers, including testimonials from growers who learned from the course and have negotiated better price outcomes thanks to the skills they picked up.
To register for this free workshop or to see more information, click here. If you’re interested, you can also contact Sophie Lapsley from RMCG at sophiel@rmcg.com.au or on 0426 200 996.
For more information on the VegPRO project and how growers are shaping its training opportunities, listen to the latest edition of the InfoVeg Radio podcast.

Workshop: Labour access focus group (Gingin)
2018-03-13 17:00 - 18:30 (Australia/Perth) | Gingin Recreational Oval, New Street, Gingin, WA, 6503, Australia

AgTech Summit (Melbourne)
2018-03-13 - 2018-03-14 | Rendezvous Hotel, 328 Flinders St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
The inaugural AgTech Summit, to be held in Melbourne in March 2018, will explore the impact that technology is having on the Australian agriculture industry.
To be held over 13–14 March, the event will feature a wide range of speakers covering all facets of technology in agriculture, including vertical farming, precision farming, the Internet of Things, robotics, biotechnology, supply chain technology and yield management.
For more information on the Summit (including a full list of speakers and topics), or to register to attend, please click here.

Workshop: Labour access focus group (Wanneroo)
2018-03-12 16:00 - 18:30 (Australia/Perth) | Wanneroo Tavern, 18 Dundebar Rd, Wanneroo, WA, 6065, Australia
vegetablesWA will be coordinating labour supply focus groups in mid-March to help growers contribute to a new report about Australia’s labour laws and visa options.
The focus groups will be attended by Dr Joanna Howe, Associate Professor in Law at the University of Adelaide, and Alex Reilly, Professor in Law at the University of Adelaide. Dr Howe will be asking growers for their views on Australia’s labour laws and visa options and how these affect growers’ businesses, with this information to be used in a report that will be used by the horticulture industry to lobby the government for better labour supply options.
As well as Dr Howe and Mr Reilly, these focus groups will also be attended by vegetablesWA CEO John Shannon and vegetablesWA Vietnamese Industry Extension Officer Truyen Vo.
This focus group will be split into two sessions for English and Vietnamese-speaking growers respectively. For more information, see the vegetablesWA website.
If you’re interested in attending this event, contact Christina Ford by Friday 9 March 2018 at christina.ford@vegetableswa.com.au.

SWP information session (Stanthorpe)
2018-03-08 17:30 - 19:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | QDAF Applethorpe, New England Highway, Applethorpe, QLD, 4378, Australia
The Queensland Agriculture Workforce Network is coordinating a series of information sessions on the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP), which has been established to provide Australian industry with a seasonal labour source while supporting neighbouring nations with financial aid.
As well as providing an overview of the SWP and the improvements to the program which have recently been announced, these workshops will showcase four key nations which participate in the SWP: Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.
The workshops will provide an overview of how growers can get involved in the SWP, including the recruitment, screening, selection and training processes, and also discuss the skills and experience that workers from these nations can bring to Australian farms.
The Queensland Office of Industrial Relations will also be attending the workshops to talk about workplace health and safety requirements for growers and regulation of the labour hire industry in Queensland, which comes into effect on 16 April 2018.
To register for this workshop, visit the Growcom website.

SWP information session (Bowen)
2018-03-06 17:30 - 19:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | The Larrikin Hotel, 69 Herbert St, Bowen, QLD, 4805, Australia

HARPS workshop (Sydney)
2018-03-06 09:30 - 10:30 UTC | Sydney Markets, 250-318 Parramatta Rd, Homebush West, NSW, 2129, Australia

Chemical handling workshop (Pooraka)
2018-03-06 08:30 - 2018-03-07 16:30 UTC | South Australian Produce Markets, Burma Rd, Pooraka, SA, 5095, Australia
VegPRO’s face-to-face courses are designed for the vegetable industry to raise awareness of the potential hazards and risks of chemicals and how to apply them safely.
This course includes safe chemical handling, storage and transport as well as safe application of chemicals using correct personal protective equipment and understanding chemical labels. This course includes ACCHM303 Prepare and Apply Chemicals and ACCHM304 Transport and Store Chemicals.
For more information, see the EventBrite page.

ABARES Outlook (Canberra)
2018-03-06 - 2018-03-07 | National Convention Centre, 31 Constitution Ave, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
The ABARES Outlook 2018 theme of Creating value in an increasingly connected world is focused on Australia’s agriculture sector, including the complex influences that will shape international markets and demand for Australian agricultural commodities and produce over the coming decade. Across the sessions, delegates will hear about the growth opportunities for Australian commodities, and the challenges and opportunities for exporters in a globally competitive and evolving market.
ABARES has confirmed leading national and international speakers and producers from: the European Commission; Center for Indonesian Policy Studies; China Policy; Macquarie Bank; Australian Food and Grocery Council; Australian National University; University of Melbourne; Costa Group; Moon Lake Investments; Teys; Tahbilk Wines and producers from across Australia.
Be part of the conversation by networking with speakers and delegates, hearing from industry leading speakers and accessing the latest forecasts and industry analysis to inform your business strategies in one convenient conference location over two days.
For more information, see the event website.

SWP information session (Mareeba)
2018-03-05 17:30 - 19:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | Mareeba Leagues Club, Doyle St, Mareeba, QLD, 4880, Australia

Native foods workshop (Cranbourne)
2018-03-02 08:30 - 16:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Royal Botanic Gardens – Cranbourne, Ballarto Rd and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne, 3977, Australia
The Australian Native Foods and Botanicals (ANFAB) roadshow is coming to Victoria, with a Growing the Growers workshop set to explore the potential of native produce.
ANFAB’s farm co-operatives and collaboration roadshow is bringing together growers (and aspiring growers), chefs, retailers and Australia’s first peoples to explore all things related to native produce, including native vegetables.
Attendees at the forum will learn about the latest information on business models and value chain collaboration, hear the most recent news on potential emerging overseas markets, and get connected with a network of the region’s native food growers. To register for the event, visit its EventBrite page.
AUSVEG attended the ANFAB event in Adelaide late last year, and spoke with consumer research agency Colmar Brunton about their levy-funded project investigating the potential domestic market for native vegetables and other native produce. To read about the research into this potential growth market, see page 28 of the January/February edition of Vegetables Australia magazine.

Workshop: Workplace Essentials (Boonah)
2018-02-22 08:45 - 16:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Outlook Training and Resource Centre, 4001 Ipswich Rd, Boonah, QLD, 4310, 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.
