A timely reminder of the importance of collaboration in the industry
28 May 2025
Grower embraces benchmarking for success
28 May 2025
Attendees discussed cover crops at the Soil Field Walk.
VegNET Wide Bay Burnett Regional Update
Organised by the VegNET, PotatoLink, and Soil Wealth ICP projects and delivered by Applied Horticultural Research, the event featured demonstrations, discussions, and useful insights on challenges and opportunities in vegetable and potato farming.
Connecting over a BBQ
The event started with a BBQ, giving attendees a chance to share experiences, discuss farming challenges, and connect with others. This informal setting encouraged conversation and set the tone for the day.
Learning about soil health and cover crops
Despite some rain, the field walk continued, with researcher Steph Tabone and grower Mark Fritz leading a session on cover crops and their role in soil health and farm resilience.
The session covered how legumes contribute nitrogen, how to manage nitrogen levels, when to terminate cover crops, and their effects on pests and diseases. Growers gained a better understanding of how to use cover crops and the benefits it can have on their farming systems.
Managing the fall armyworm problem
VegNET Regional Development Officer Jessy Logan shared details on upcoming VegNET activities for 2025 and insights from John Duff on the fall armyworm (FAW) eHUB. This session provided guidance on using the platform to stay informed on FAW developments.
A key topic was a recent spray trial on sweet corn, which compared band spraying to blanket spraying. Both methods showed similar control results. The session provided practical advice on FAW monitoring, management, and lessons from past trials.
Understanding environmental requirements
Environmental regulations are a growing concern in farming. Noel Ainsworth led a session on emissions reporting and ways to improve soil carbon. The discussion focused on the staged approach to emissions reporting, and what tools are available for farmers to determine their carbon number to meet potential reporting requirements in the future.
Soil Field Walk attendees at Mark Fritz’s farm.
Growers raised concerns about increasing regulations, leading to a discussion on balancing compliance with everyday farming needs. Noel answered questions and encouraged an open conversation around these challenges farmers face.
Improving water and nutrient use
Using water and nutrients efficiently is key for productivity and sustainability. Naomi Diplock shared updates from the Soil Wealth ICP Bundaberg demonstration site, which has monitored water and nutrient use in capsicums, to identify opportunities for improved approaches that enhance crop health and input efficiencies.
Attendees also learned about spray coverage effectiveness for managing internal mould in capsicums. The project team invited growers to participate in testing spray efficiencies, showing how better spray techniques can reduce waste and costs.
Moving toward more sustainable farming
The Soil Field Walk event highlighted the importance of innovation, collaboration, and research-based practices in farming. Attendees left with practical insights and a stronger focus on soil health, efficient input use, and pest management. Stay tuned for future event updates— let’s keep improving together!