AUSVEG

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
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.

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.

Workshop: Workplace Essentials (Chinchilla)
2018-02-21 08:45 - 16:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Chinchilla Family Support Centre, 67/71 Middle St, Chinchilla, QLD, 4413, Australia

Workshop: Workplace Essentials (Kingaroy)
2018-02-20 08:45 - 16:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | DAF Kingaroy, 214 Kingaroy-Cooyar Rd, Kingaroy, QLD, 4610, Australia

Negotiations and influencing course (Pooraka)
2018-02-19 07:30 - 2018-02-20 16:00 (Australia/Adelaide) | South Australian Produce Markets, Burma Rd, Pooraka, SA, 5095, Australia
VegPRO is coordinating a free two-day workshop to help growers improve their negotiations and influencing skills in all facets of their business.
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; and
identifying other people’s tactics and having a strategy for responses.

To register for this free workshop, click here.
For more information, please see the event flyer, or contact Hannah McArdle on 0408 475 995 or at hannah.mcardle@ausveg.com.au.
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.

Gulfood (Dubai)
2018-02-18 - 2018-02-22 | Dubai World Trade Centre, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Exporting vegetable growers are invited to apply to attend the world’s largest food trade event. Held in Dubai, Gulfood 2018 will involve 5,000 exhibitors showcasing products from across eight primary market sectors.
Date: 18–22 February 2018
Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre
The anticipated travel dates for successful participants will be 16–22 February 2018. The program will involve the following opportunities:

Exhibit and showcase your products at Gulfood to fresh produce buyers from across the Middle East region;
Build your knowledge of the supply chain in the United Arab Emirates and wider region; and
Gain introductions to various Middle Eastern retailers and wholesalers.

AUSVEG has a limited number of funded positions available for levy-paying vegetable growers to exhibit at the Gulfood 2018 trade show. If you are interested in exhibiting and being part of the AUSVEG delegation for this trade event, please contact AUSVEG on (03) 9882 0277 to discuss the options available.
To download the application form, please click here. Applications must be submitted to AUSVEG via e-mail to export@ausveg.com.au.

Workshop: IPM field walk (Virginia)
2018-02-15 15:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Adelaide) | T Musolino and Co, Broster Road, Virginia, SA, 5120, Australia
South Australian growers are invited to attend a field walk through one of the Integrated Pest Management trials conducted as part of AUSVEG SA’s Australia-first IPM program.
Date: Thursday 15 February 2018
Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm
Location: T Musolino and Co, Broster Road Virginia
Growers will have an opportunity to see how IPM pest management techniques have been successfully applied in a field brassica commercial growing operation and learn more about the project from interstate IPM experts, local agronomists and growers involved in the trial.
AUSVEG SA has a number of places available for growers who would like to trial IPM production practices in the final year of its project, so the field walk provides an opportunity to see the results of IPM production practices in action and learn about how to participate in the final trials available as part of the project.
To register for this event, please contact the AUSVEG SA Office on 0404 772 308 or email ausvegsa@ausveg.com.au.

Organic symposium (Canberra)
2018-02-14 - 2018-02-15 | Old Parliament House, 18 King George Terrace, Parkes, ACT, 2600, Australia
Organic industry members and stakeholders, including organic vegetable growers, are encouraged to attend an upcoming symposium to discuss the future of the sector and the formation of a new peak body.
The Australian Government has announced a range of initiatives to drive the profitability, resilience and sustainability of the organic sector, including committing $30.8 million under the Agriculture White Paper to increase access to premium markets.
This symposium is being convened to discuss the future of the government’s organic program and to deliberate on the formation of a new organic industry peak body to represent the industry. For more information on the symposium, please click here. To register to attend, visit the symposium’s EventBrite page.

Chemical handling workshop (Coal River region)
2018-02-13 08:30 - 2018-02-14 16:30 (Australia/Hobart) | Coal River Region, TAS, 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 ACHM304 Transport and Store Chemicals.
For more information, see the EventBrite page.

Workshop: Sustainable Farm Families (Woomelang)
2018-02-13 - 2018-02-14 | Woomelang Bush Nursing Centre, Proctor St, Woomelang, VIC, 3485, 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: Workplace Essentials (Charters Towers)
2018-02-08 08:45 - 16:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | DAF Charters Towers, 1-5 Prior St, Charters Towers, QLD, 4820, Australia

Workshop: Workplace Essentials (Bowen)
2018-02-07 08:45 - 16:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | QDAF Bowen, 45 Warwick Road, Bowen, QLD, 4805, Australia

Workshop: Sustainable Farm Families (Warracknabeal)
2018-02-07 | Warracknabeal Hospital, 18 Dimboola Road, Warracknabeal, VIC, 3393, Australia

Workshop: Workplace Essentials (Mackay)
2018-02-06 08:45 - 16:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Shamrock Hotel, 165 Nebo Rd, Mackay, Queensland, 4740, Australia

Workshop: Sustainable Farm Families (Yaapeet)
2018-02-06 | Yaapeet Recreational Reserve, Yaapeet, VIC, 3424, Australia

Industry LDM - Europe
2018-02-05 - 2018-02-13 | QLD
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.

Industry LDM - USA
2018-02-03 - 2018-02-17 | QLD
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.

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

Workshop: Sustainable Farm Families (Harrow)
2018-01-31 | Harrow Bush Nursing Centre, 24 Blair St, Harrow, VIC, 3317, Australia

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

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

Webinar: Fusarium wilt management
2017-12-07 12:30 - 13:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | QLD
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.

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.

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.

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