VIC: International markets: real time insights & exporter tools with Victorian Commissioners
2025-10-21 09:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-22 09:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-23 09:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-24 09:30 - 14:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | QLD
Global Victoria invites you to an exclusive in-person session designed to help Victorian exporters shape their next global chapter.

By combining global intelligence with practical guidance, you’ll gain access to real-time international market insights directly from a Victorian Commissioner, alongside tools and resources to help your business grow.
Hear the latest on:

Macro-economic indicators – GDP growth, consumer trends, trade flows
Trade opportunities and risks – sector-specific insights and case studies of Victorian exporters succeeding overseas
Supply chain challenges and opportunities – sea and air freight trends, global disruption and resilience strategies
Market entry considerations – cultural factors, business etiquette, regulatory environment, and how to find the right partners
You’ll also connect with other government and local agencies to discover the range of business services and support programs available to you.

📌 Why attend in person?

Network directly with Victorian Commissioner/s and trade experts
Ask questions in real time during our interactive Q&A panel
Build connections over networking breaks
Access practical tools and checklists to strengthen your export plan

Bendigo
When: Tuesday 21 October
Where: Bendigo GovHub – Galkangu 195-229 Lyttleton Terrace
Geelong
When: Wednesday 22 October
Where: Wurriki Nyal Civic Precinct – City of Greater Geelong 137-149 Mercer Street
Morwell
When: Thursday 23 October
Where: Innovation Centre, Federation University, 1 Monash Way
Ballarat
When: Friday 24 October
Where: Federation University, Brewery Building, Lydiard Street

Webinar: Report overview: Understand the factors driving productivity in Australian horticulture
2025-10-22 11:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Hear from Hort Innovation and the Centre for International Economics about the recently released Factors Driving Horticulture Productivity report. Dive into an overview about what is propelling productivity and how horticulture is set to benefit.

VIC: Export Ready Workshop
2025-10-23 - 2025-10-24 | QLD
This two-day, in-person workshop will equip you with the essential skills, insights and resources needed to start selling your goods or services overseas. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with experienced exporters, trade experts and peers- building valuable networks to support your export ambitions.

Webinar: Farm Fire Preparedness
2025-10-27 19:00 - 20:15 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Managing the risk of bushfire for your farm is vital.
Whether you’re a livestock producer, run a horticulture enterprise, a small landholder, or are new to farming it’s important to prepare for the coming fire season. Join us for this upcoming webinar about Farm Fire Preparedness.
Planning and preparing for the bushfire season includes identifying risks and undertaking tasks to prepare your farm well ahead of the fire season.
In this webinar, Agriculture Victoria’s Kylie Macreadie and will discuss key preparedness activities, tools and templates to help you plan for the fire season. Landholders impacted by recent fires will share their stories of preparing for fire, putting a fire plan into practice and share information on the recovery process.
Topics include:

Preparing farm infrastructure
Farm asset inventories and insurance
Fire preparedness checklists, action plan and map
Planning for impacts and recovery
Updating your Property Identification Code (PIC)

Webinar: Bites and Insights - Gatton AgTech Showcase and Lockyer Valley Study Tour
2025-10-28 12:30 - 13:15 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Join us online over lunch or a cuppa to hear from WA, SA and TAS veg growers who recently attended the VegNET study tour to the Gatton AgTech Showcase and farm tours across the Lockyer Valley.
The VegNET team will provide an overview of what the study tour covered and then we’ll hear from veg growers on their key takeaways and highlights and where they see opportunities for their farming businesses and regions.

Webinar: Get ‘RIC Ready’ to apply for a low-cost farm business loan
2025-10-29 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Get ‘RIC Ready’ Webinar – an essential guide to help farm businesses, trusted advisers and interested stakeholders learn more about RIC loans. Join the free webinar to understand more about eligibility criteria before applying and what you need to know before you submit an application for an Australian Government low-cost loan delivered by RIC (Regional Investment Corporation).

Webinar: Is agritourism the right diversification option for my farm?
2025-10-30 18:30 - 19:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Have you ever considered tourism as a diversification opportunity for your farm?
Learn about the costs and benefits of agritourism to determine if this is the right opportunity for you, from:

Regional tourism development consultancy Tilma Group
Regional tourism organisation Destination Central West NSW
Agritourism business RedGround Australia truffle farm
Tax advisor Kenny Spring Solicitors
Planning consultant Burns Planning & Development
Insurance broker Nutrien Ag Solutions (Marsh Insurance)

There will be opportunity for Q&A with each expert.

Webinar: Productivity driver deep dive – capability building and data automation
2025-11-03 16:30 - 17:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Learn about two key productivity drivers from the Factors Driving Horticulture Productivity report – capability building and data automation. Hear from Hort Innovation and industry leaders across vegetable, onion, macadamia, and nursery industries as they share insights from the levy-funded benchmarking projects they’re leading. Discover the learnings, innovations, and on-the-ground experiences that show how these two factors are transforming productivity across horticulture.

TAS: VegNET Agtech in Action Sundowner: Ecorobotix ARA Precision Sprayer & Gatton Ag Tech Showcase Wrap Up
2025-11-06 16:00 - 18:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Harvest Moon, Devenport, TAS, Australia
Join VegNET Tasmania and Harvest Moon at their farm in Forth for a sundowner event to see their latest investment in weed management – the ARA Ecorobotix Precision Sprayer.
We will also hear from growers who attended the recent Gatton AgTech Showcase and Lockyer Valley Study Tour with their highlights, learnings and opportunities identified.

Timing: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
4:00pm – arrive for refreshments, catch ups
4:15pm Gatton AgTech Showcase highlights and Q&A
4:45pm – ARA Ecorobotix session with Harvest Moon team
6:00pm – event wraps up

IMPORTANT: BIOSECURITY PROTOCOLS
Please ensure you adhere to any biosecurity protocols outlined on arrival.
You must check in with VegNET Tasmania on event arrival and use the footbath provided.

VegNET 3.0 (VG21000) is a vegetable and onion industry extension program nationally coordinated by AUSVEG and funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable and onion research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government.

QLD: Cover cropping for soil health and productivity: Preparing for the wet season in north Queensland
2025-11-12 09:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | Ayr Research Station, 343 Old Clare Rd, McDesme, QLD, 4807, Australia
Get your soils ready for the wet season!
Join us for a practical workshop designed for north Queensland vegetable and melon growers, focused on making the most of cover crops.
Discover how the right cover crop choices can boost soil health, reduce erosion, improve moisture management, and strengthen your production system. You’ll learn proven strategies for establishing, managing, and terminating cover crops to suit north Queensland’s unique growing conditions.
What attendees will see and learn from the event:

Improving soil health
Choice of species of cover crops
Moisture management and strategies for establishing cover crops ahead of the wet season
Termination and pest and disease considerations
Considerations for different cash crops/operations

Date: 12 November 2025
Location: Ayr Research Station – 343 Old Clare Rd, McDesme Qld
Speakers: Kelvin Montagu (SWICP), Richelle Kelly (VegNET)
For more information about this event, contact Isabella Ellmers (isabella.ellmers@ahr.com.au 0431 125 513

Webinar: Launch of the 2025 Fundamental Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety
2025-11-12 12:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Join the Fresh Produce Safety Centre (FPSC) for the official launch of the 2025 Fundamental Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety — the industry’s trusted resource for managing food safety risks across the fresh produce supply chain.
The refreshed Fundamental Guidelines bring together the latest science, good practice and regulatory insights to support the ongoing safety and integrity of fresh produce from production to post-harvest handling. Developed through extensive research and industry consultation, the 2025 edition is designed for every business seeking to strengthen food safety culture, protect consumers, and meet market and regulatory expectations.
This webinar will be recorded and shared with those who cannot attend.

Webinar: How has PMTV impacted potato growing regions in other countries?
2025-11-13 09:00 - 10:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Join AUSVEG for the second webinar on Potato mop-top virus (PMTV). We will be joined by Julie Pasche from North Dakota State University.
What you will learn:
Potato mop top virus was detected in processing potatoes in America in the early 2000s. It was confirmed in North Dakota in 2011. Hear from Associate Professor and the Neil C. Gudmestad Endowed Chair of Potato Pathology, Julie Pasche, on how the virus has impacted potato growing and processing over time, and how the industry has responded.
Representatives from the offices of the Chief Plant Health Officers of Victoria and Tasmania, respectively, will be online to provide an update on the current activities in their states.
Registration is essential
Learn more here:

Biosecurity Tasmania
Agriculture Victoria

This webinar is supported by AUSVEG Farm Biosecurity Program and VegWatch.

Webinar: Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot
2025-11-13 14:00 - 15:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
The Department of Home Affairs invites you to attend a free webinar to learn more about how Australian employers can access the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot Program (the Pilot).
By becoming an approved employer, businesses can access a large pool of talent to fill critical skill shortages and support the settlement of a skilled refugee and their family in Australia.
The webinar is open to employers interested in accessing a source of skilled labour that also offers a skilled refugee and their family the opportunity to rebuild their lives in Australia. The Pilot is delivered in partnership with Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB).

NSW: Export Ready Workshop
2025-11-19 - 2025-11-20 | QLD

QLD: Agronomist Networking Breakfast
2025-11-19 07:00 - 10:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Burnett Riverside, 7 Quay St, Bundaberg Central, QLD, 4670, Australia
Join us for an interactive session designed to keep growers, agronomists, and industry stakeholders up to date with the latest developments in agrichemical use, regulation, and best practice.
Why attend?
✔ Stay informed on regulatory changes
✔ Learn about new tools and options for effective crop protection
✔ Get clarity on permits and how to access them
✔ Strengthen biosecurity on farm
What’s covered:

Upcoming Chemical Reviews & New Chemistries – Updates on products under review and the shift toward safer, more sustainable alternatives.
Emergency & Minor Use Permits – How they work, when they apply, and what they mean for crop protection strategies.
Biosecurity in Practice – Practical steps to reduce risks, plus the launch of the Healthy Farms Biosecurity Guide.
Priority Pests Feedback Session – Have your say on shortlisted pests and discuss management options.
Practical record keeping to meet WHS and QA requirements

Questions? Call VegNET Regional Development Officer Jessy Logan on 0407 366 797.
Download the flyer here

VegNET 3.0 (VG21000) is a vegetable and onion industry extension program nationally coordinated by AUSVEG and funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable and onion research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government.

National Agriculture Day
2025-11-21 | QLD
National Agriculture Day is your chance to celebrate and learn about Australia’s incredible farm sector. Held on the third Friday of November each year, it’s one day to celebrate an industry that’s part of our lives – every single day.

On this Ag Day, Australians are being called to Stand with the Land. For the past year, our farmers have shown extraordinary grit, navigating record-breaking floods, devastating droughts, imperfect policies and trade disruptions. Stand with the Land is a powerful call to action that unites Australians in solidarity with our farmers and rural communities.

QFF National Agriculture Day Breakfast 2025
2025-11-21 07:00 - 17:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | The Royal International Convention Centre, 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills QLD 4006, Bowen Hills, QLD, 4006, Australia
QFF and our peak body members invite you to join their annual National Ag Day breakfast and hear from special guest speaker, the Premier of Queensland, Hon David Crisafulli, who will reflect on his first 12 months in office and his vision for the future of agriculture in Queensland.

Celebrate National Agriculture Day at the Hort Business Summit
2025-11-21 08:00 - 18:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Science Gallery Melbourne, 114 Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
The Hort Business Summit is back — and bigger than ever! Last year’s inaugural event brought the industry together for a day of insights, inspiring ideas, and valuable network connections. This year, we’re taking it up a notch.
In today’s challenging business environment, staying informed is crucial. This year’s Summit will unpack the key issues facing horticulture — from farm economics to the power of advocacy, from ag-tech innovation to consumer insights — and help you turn challenges into opportunities.
You’ll hear directly from industry leaders, policy experts, and the retailer sector, then wrap up the day by connecting with your peers over networking drinks.
📅 Date: Friday, 21 November
🕒 Time: 08:30am – 6:00pm AEDT
📍 Location: Science Gallery Melbourne, at/114 Grattan St, Parkville VIC 3052
Register here.
Download the program here!

NSW: National Ag Day field experience Share
2025-11-21 12:00 - 15:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | The Greater Sydney Local Land Services Demonstration Farm, 40 Edwards Rd, Richmond Lowlands, NSW, Australia
Celebrate National Ag Day with practical demonstrations, research insights, and networking on soil health, irrigation, pest management, and more!

Event details:
Join Greater Sydney Local Land Services and VegNET NSW to celebrate National Ag Day with a hands-on field experience at the Greater Sydney Demonstration Farm.
This dynamic event brings together growers, students, and industry professionals to explore the latest in soil health, irrigation, pollination, and pest management.
Enjoy a networking lunch with the Young Horties at 12:00 pm, followed by field talks from 1:00 – 3:00 pm, featuring:

Soil Wealth ICP demonstration site cover cropping results with applied horticultural research.
Irrigation demonstration with the WaterWise Project*
On farm pollination.
Fall Armyworm research update from Macquarie University.
Seasonal pest and disease management.

*This activity is partly funded by the NHT Capacity Building grants, which provides funding for increased community capacity and capability for sustainable agriculture and natural resource management practices in Australia. This funding is made available under the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1977.

Additional details:

A BBQ lunch will be provided.
This event will be partially held outdoors; please ensure you wear sturdy footwear.

NT: Workplace Relations Briefings for Horticulture Employers
2025-11-24 10:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Darwin) | NT Farmers Conference Room, Shop 15A, Coolalinga Shopping Centre, 460 Stuart Highway, Coolalinga, NT, 0839, Australia
Australian Industry Group and AUSVEG are holding workplace relations briefings for employers in the horticulture sector in various regions across the country. Australian Industry Group has been a strong voice representing employers during the development and implementation of the new workplace relations laws, and will share their expertise during these informative sessions.
The interactive briefings will provide you with succinct updates and valuable insights into significant workplace relations developments relevant to your sector.
The meetings will also offer important opportunities to provide your perspective on these developments and share your views and experiences with your peers.
The 2-hour briefing will canvas topics including:

The Federal Government’s new workplace relations agenda & associated developments
Impact of the regulatory changes in labour hire and independent contracting
Update on current major cases and decisions or developments relating to matters including:

flexible work arrangements
annualised salaries
enterprise bargaining – multi-employer
right of entry
delegates rights / model terms
sexual harassment

Update on the regulatory changes being decided relating to the use of owner drivers and their impact on the supply chain
The Fair Work Ombudsman activities and powers in relation to Wage Theft and Sexual Harassment

Northern Territory – Darwin:
Monday, 24 November 2025 | 10:00am–12:00pm | NT Farmers Meeting Room, Shop 15A, Coolalinga Shopping Centre, 460 Stuart Highway, Coolalinga NT 0839
Western Australia – Perth:
Wednesday, 26 November 2025 | 2:00pm–4:00pm | Vegetables WA Board Room, 702–704 Murray Street, West Perth WA 6005
Queensland – Cairns:
Wednesday, 26 November 2025 | 2:00pm–4:00pm | Crystalbrook Riley, 131–141 Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870
Victoria – Gippsland:
Thursday, 27 November 2025 | 2:00pm–4:00pm | Schreurs & Sons, 160 Fisheries Road, Devon Meadows VIC
Tasmania – Longford:
Monday, 1 December 2025 | 11:00am–1:00pm | TasFarmers Boardroom, 41–43 Wellington Street, Longford TAS 7301
Victoria – Werribee:
Tuesday, 2 December 2025 | 2:00pm–4:00pm | Holiday Inn Werribee, 22 Synnot Street, Werribee VIC 3030
New South Wales – Coffs Harbour:
Thursday, 4 December 2025 | 9:30am–11:30am | Pacific Bay Resort, Cnr Pacific Hwy and Bay Drive, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

Note: Further workshops will be held in early 2026.

VIC: Australian-Grown Innovation Build Program Demo Day
2025-11-24 17:00 - 19:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | State Library Victoria
Join the Australian-Grown Innovation (AGI) Build Program Demo Day to witness the next evolution of agri-tech.
The AGI program empowers promising startups, connecting ambitious founders with the resources, mentors, and investors they need to scale globally. Great connections don’t happen behind a screen—they happen in the room.
​Why Attend? Your Demo Day Advantage
This is more than just a pitch session—it’s your chance to impact your trajectory.

​See the Future of Food: Discover the cutting-edge developments leading the future of horticulture in Australia.

​Connect with Visionaries: Meet the founders and teams behind the most exciting new technologies and business models.

​Find Your Next Opportunity: Engage with investors, industry leaders, government representatives, and other key players passionate about the sector. Discover potential investment opportunities, partnerships, or new technologies that could fundamentally change your business or career path.

​
Whether you’re an investor looking for the top opportunity, a founder seeking funding, or an innovator wanting to stay ahead of the curve, your network is waiting.

Webinar: From Gen Z to Boomers – what’s on Australia’s plate?
2025-11-25 11:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Every generation has its own food story. Gen Z wants creativity and inspiration but skips breakfast more than any other demographic. Millennials stick to staples while juggling family life. Older Australians lean into seasonality and provenance.
Join Hort Innovation’s Wendy Hubbard and Cori Hodge (FiftyFive5) as they explore generational differences and uncover what they mean for Australia’s horticulture industry.
Here’s what’s on the agenda:

The “say-do” gap: Why intentions don’t always match what ends up in the basket
How habits, price sensitivity, and creativity shape fresh produce choices
The role of provenance and seasonality for older Australians

Webinar: Productivity driver deep dive – Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation and mechanisation
2025-11-26 11:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Understand how AI and automation are being brought to life with Bluewhite Robotics. Dive into a world of automation and artificial intelligence with Hort Innovation and Bluewhite Robotics. Unearth learnings and find out more about adoption as they share the final influences of the Factors Driving Horticulture Productivity report – AI and automation.

TasFarmers North East Member Forum
2025-11-27 07:30 - 10:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Scottsdale Football Club, 5 Rose St, Scottsdale, TAS, 7260, Australia
Start your morning with great food, local conversations, and valuable updates from TasFarmers.
Our North East Member Forum is your opportunity to connect directly with the TasFarmers team, discuss key regional issues, and help shape the future of farming in Tasmania.
Hear the latest from:

Nathan Calman (TasFarmers) – Advocacy Update: What TasFarmers has been working on for you, and the major policy priorities ahead.
Neil Grose (TasFarmers) – Freight & Transport Open Session: Share your experiences and insights to help inform TasFarmers’ advocacy efforts.

Then, join our expert Panel Session on Water Security for the Future, featuring:

Marek Matuszek (Ag Logic)
Basil Doonan (Pinion Advisory)
Amy Madsen (Tasmanian Irrigation)
Gain practical insights on managing water resources, building resilience, and preparing for the future of farming in Tasmania’s changing climate.

Finally, take the opportunity to have your say, we’ll open the floor for members to share local issues, ideas, and advocacy priorities directly with the TasFarmers team.

Webinar: Fruit and vegetable industry tomato potato psyllid
2025-11-27 11:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
Agriculture Victoria will hold a webinar on Thursday 27 November from 11 am – 12 pm focused on interstate market access requirements for the fruit and vegetable industry.

In October 2025, Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP) was detected outside the current Restricted Area in Victoria. As a result of this detection, businesses in Victoria will soon need to comply with destination jurisdiction entry requirements for TPP when moving plants or produce interstate.
Please refer to the Biosecurity Update – Market access changes for interstate fruit and vegetable trade for further information.
Agriculture Victoria has worked with industry to rapidly develop a new arrangement to assist with interstate market access for the fruit and vegetable industry.
Fruit and vegetable businesses that trade interstate can now apply for Interstate Certification Assurance (ICA)-61 – Pack-House Washing and Inspection of Tomato-Potato Psyllid Carrier Produce.
Please read through the following attached documents to understand the requirements of this procedure and to determine if accreditation is required for your business:

ICA-61 Pack-House Washing and Inspection of Tomato-Potato Psyllid Carrier Produce procedure
Standard Operating Procedure: Completion of Plant Health Assurance Certificates

To apply for an ICA-61 accreditation, please complete the Application for Accreditation and Authorised Signatory Form(s) and submit via email: biosecurityservicescentre@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Fees for plant biosecurity services (application fees, audits, non-conformance reports) are waived until 30 June 2026, as part of the Victorian Government Drought Support Package. Information on fees and charges can be found at: agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/moving-plants-and-plant-products/fees-and-charges-for-plant-biosecurity-services
For further information or to confirm market access requirements, please contact your local Agriculture Victoria Plant Biosecurity Officer by telephone on 1800 878 962 or email:

South East Region – plant.standards@agriculture.vic.gov.au
South West Region – plant.southwest@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Northern Region – plant.quarantine@agriculture.vic.gov.au

For assistance with completing the Application for Accreditation or Authorised Signatory form, please contact the Agriculture Victoria Biosecurity Service centre on 1800 403 224 or via biosecurityservicescentre@agriculture.vic.gov.au.
For more information about TPP visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/pest-insects-and-mites/priority-pest-insects-and-mites/tomato-potato-psyllid

Webinar: Hort Innovation 2025 Annual General Meeting
2025-11-28 12:00 - 15:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Webinar
This year, Hort Innovation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held virtually on Friday, 28 November 2025 at 12.00pm (AEDT).

NSW: Intro to Water and Nutrition in Greenhouse Production
2025-12-02 09:00 - 11:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Zafer Boustani’s Property, 85 Rita Street, Thirlmere, NSW, Australia
Flyer available in English and Arabic here
Learn about:

Basic irrigation and nutrition principles
How to test your irrigation system
Tips to save water and $$$
What is drip and drain – how to test for it?

Free water tests (2 per farm) valued at $140 and resource manual for attendees.
Speakers:

Tony Bundock, Genesis Horticultural Solutions
Ewan Leighton, North Coast Local Land Services

RSVP
30 November for catering purposes.
Email Matt or Sylvia to register.
Contact
Matt Plunkett on 0428 978 390 or matthew.plunkett@lls.nsw.gov.au
Sylvia Jelinek on 0427 086 724 or sylvia.jelinek@lls.nsw.gov.au
Activity is partly funded by the NHT Capacity Building grants, which provides funding for increased community capacity and capability for sustainable agriculture and natural resource management practices in Australia. This funding is made available under the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1977
