22 February 2021
In 2017, the VegNET team established a training program for vegetable growers from a culturally and linguistically diverse background with an aim to increase their farming […]
22 February 2021
In late 2020, Sarah Limpus took up the Regional Development Officer (RDO) role for the National Vegetable Extension Network (VegNET) project in North Queensland with the […]
22 February 2021
On 20 November last year, Gippsland’s most collaborative and innovative agribusinesses were recognised at the 2020 Food & Fibre Gippsland Excellence in Agribusiness Awards. Three of […]
22 February 2021
On-farm biosecurity requires the implementation of efficient farm practices that protect crops from the introduction of pests and disease and support specified market access requirements. Biosecurity […]
22 February 2021
Looking to improve nitrogen management? Switching to a liquid nitrogen fertiliser could be the answer. Incitec Pivot Fertilisers Technical Agronomist Conrad Leeks explores its potential to […]
16 February 2021
If pests are a problem in your vegetable crop, take a look at these field identification guides that provide more information and photos of the main […]
16 February 2021
Studies in the United States have shown the important role soil biology plays in managing high sodium levels in lettuce crops. To assist growers with managing […]
16 February 2021
Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a plant pest native to the Americas. It was first detected in Australia in 2020 and has since spread across Queensland, […]
22 February 2021
Cabbage growers from the Northern Adelaide Plains have teamed up with TriCal Australia and the South Australian Research and Development Institute to conduct soil fumigation trials […]
22 February 2021
In this article, vegetable grower Peter Covino (pictured in main image) from Covino Farms in Victoria’s Gippsland region discusses his approach to controlling aphids in broccoli, […]
22 February 2021
In this ‘Ask the industry’ column, Syngenta Technical Services Lead – Horticulture and Viticulture Dr Belinda (Brandy) Rawnsley discusses sclerotinia and what vegetable growers can do […]
22 February 2021
In November 2020, a new scheme aiming to tackle the issue of plastic waste in agriculture was announced. An initiative under the Federal Government’s National Product […]
10 February 2021
Water and fertiliser are the two biggest input costs in vegetable production in Western Australia. Rising costs of fertiliser and significant reductions in water allocations have […]
2 February 2021
In 2020, the digital toolkit ‘Phenomenom’ continued to expand its reach and relevance in Australian classrooms. The program includes a suite of springboard webisodes, audio and […]
27 January 2021
Before securing his role as Hort Innovation R&D Manager, Dr Greg Chandler says he came to biosecurity and horticulture through an unusual path. Dr Chandler is […]
12 January 2021
Are you a chilli grower? Hot pepper intensive chilli production systems are susceptible to soilborne diseases, such as Sclerotium rolfsii, especially during the summer months. Check out […]
12 January 2021
The Regional Investment Corporation and the Commonwealth Government are providing special AgriStarter Loans to first time farmers and to farmers who are implementing succession arrangements. Loan […]
12 January 2021
The Federal Government is offering financial incentives to help businesses hire and keep new employees. Your business may be able to get up to $10,000 (GST inclusive) […]
22 December 2020
The industry has faced significant hardship throughout 2020, including the devastating bushfires, the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting labour shortages and restrictions in many parts of […]
22 December 2020
As the weather continues to warm up across the state, plant irrigation requirements also continue to increase. Having a good understanding of where your soil moisture […]
22 December 2020
Does your on-boarding process with new workers meet the Fair Work standard? Does it provide your employees with the information they require to work on your […]
22 December 2020
Import requirements are in place to prevent serpentine leafminer movement to Western Australia. These requirements are for the import of prescribed potential carriers and host of […]
15 December 2020
Fair Farms is a training and certification program that growers can use to show they are responsible employers of choice as they have awareness of – […]
15 December 2020
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) has released a new Industry Advice Notice (IAN), to advise industry that New Zealand has revised the […]
15 December 2020
AUSVEG has welcomed the election of vegetable grower Emma Germano as the President of the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF). Emma is the Managing Director of her […]
15 December 2020
Three vegetable growing operations across New South Wales have participated in a trial that set out to investigate if recycled organics compost was an economically-viable option […]
15 December 2020
Growers can keep up-to-date with key information regarding domestic and international pesticide regulations via Ag Chemical Updates. You can download the latest update (December 2020) here. The updates provide information […]
15 December 2020
45,000 risky seed parcels have been intercepted at Australia’s international mail centres in 2020, while reports of unsolicited seeds being received through the mail have also […]
11 December 2020
Harvest Labour AUSVEG was this week in Canberra advocating to Federal Government for solutions regarding the Harvest Labour Shortage, which is at a critical stage. AUSVEG […]
8 December 2020
Click here to read AUSVEG’s latest update on its advocacy activities. While labour continues to be front and centre of AUSVEG’s advocacy discussions, this update also […]
8 December 2020
As the weather continues to warm up across the state, plant irrigation requirements also continue to increase. Having a good understanding of where your soil moisture […]
8 December 2020
Harvest to Home, funded by Hort Innovation, is an interactive online dashboard that provides users with up-to-date retail information and consumer trend data on a range of […]
8 December 2020
The Joint Standing Committee on Migration has called for changes to backpacker visas to address labour shortages in regional Australia. Workers in low-paid farm jobs such […]
2 December 2020
National Lost Crop Register AUSVEG is urging growers to utilise the National Lost Crop Register to log their losses due to the lack of labour available […]
1 December 2020
AUSVEG has announced the appointment of Renee Pye from South Australia as a Grower Director on its Board. Renee will replace vegetable grower Danny De Ieso, […]
1 December 2020
AUSVEG has welcomed the election of three new Directors to the Hort Innovation Board at its Annual General Meeting on Friday 27 November. Michael Nixon, former […]
1 December 2020
In October 2020, an organic-certified crop protection product was released on to the Australian market. With registration for over 80 different crops, this naturally derived insecticide […]
1 December 2020
Australia’s vegetable growers have a new option in crop protection with an insecticide developed to assist in controlling a range of destructive pests including Lepidopteran pests, […]
30 November 2020
When a product is commercialised and enters the supply chain, provenance verification technology provides the vital ability to prove a product’s origin claims, through the scientific […]
30 November 2020
As part of the Hort Innovation-funded Harvest to Home project, global information and measurement company Nielsen has produced a comprehensive review into the impacts on COVID-19 […]
30 November 2020
Hort Innovation commissioned consultancy firm Ernst & Young (EY) to calculate the predicted seasonal worker shortage in the Australian horticulture industry in light of the COVID-19 […]
30 November 2020
Australian vegetable grower-exporters have demonstrated strong resilience in their businesses and supply chains to continue to export during the first three quarters of 2020 and their […]
30 November 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the way consumers buy fresh produce. The ‘homebody economy’ looks set to stay. Our new normal means many of us […]
30 November 2020
Three vegetable growing operations across New South Wales have participated in a trial that set out to investigate if recycled organics compost was an economically-viable option […]
30 November 2020
One of the best defences against pests and diseases on your farm is to implement on-farm hygiene practices. These may limit the entry, spread and establishment […]
30 November 2020
A five-year cross-industry project, Naturally Nutritious is researching the development of innovative food products and varieties that are nutritious, delicious and visually appealing. Project Lead Dr […]
30 November 2020
Pay a levy? Then you won’t want to miss everything your levy dollars got up to during the most recent financial year, with the release of […]
30 November 2020
Studies in the United States have shown the important role soil biology plays in managing high sodium levels in lettuce crops. To assist growers with managing […]
30 November 2020
The latest in bed planting technology has arrived in Australia, enabling certified potato seed growers to produce a more uniform crop while conserving water and increasing […]
30 November 2020
In 2018, a Victorian growing operation launched its own herb brand that now consists of 20 different varieties. Based in Heatherton in Melbourne’s south-east, Butler Market […]
1 December 2020
In this article, Virginia Brunton and Solomon Wadani from MRA Consulting Group discuss a project focusing on the impact that compost can have on water retention […]
1 December 2020
In 2020, the digital toolkit ‘Phenomenom’ has continued to expand its reach and relevance in Australian classrooms. The program includes a suite of springboard webisodes, audio […]
1 December 2020
The Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection (ICP) project works with growers nationally to put soil management and plant health research into practice. As the year […]
1 December 2020
Downy mildew can cause wide-ranging destruction to horticultural crops, and this fungal disease flourishes in cooler, wet conditions. In this column, Syngenta Technical Services Lead – […]
1 December 2020
In this article, the Growcom Fair Farms Initiative team discusses Australia’s industrial relations system and its key component, the industrial instrument. Furthermore, the team delves into […]
1 December 2020
Since the beginning of VegNET Phase 2, the VegNET – Victoria (South-East, West and North) team has undertaken extensive analysis to understand what exactly the Victorian […]
1 December 2020
VegNET – New South Wales, in partnership with Simplot, engaged with growers to hold a Farm Technology Field Day in Bathurst and Geurie in September 2018. […]
1 December 2020
Water and fertiliser are the two biggest input costs in vegetable production in Western Australia. Rising costs of fertiliser and significant reductions in water allocations have […]
1 December 2020
Despite the challenges faced, 2020 has seen the Northern Territory vegetable industry continuing to commit to providing fresh and valuable produce to Australia’s southern markets during […]
1 December 2020
VegNET Regional Development Officer Bree Grima provides a snapshot of the Wide Bay-Burnett region, and explains the reasons behind the project’s four key focus areas that […]
1 December 2020
Growers are continually finding innovative solutions to reduce their impact on the environment. Situated on the Great Barrier Reef’s doorstep, North Queensland’s Bowen and Gumlu district […]
1 December 2020
In 2020, Lockyer Valley Growers Inc. hosted a series of workshops with producers and industry in conjunction with entomologists from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, […]
1 December 2020
Facilitated by Food & Fibre Gippsland, VegNET – Gippsland has been actively engaging vegetable growers in the region to develop a five-year strategy. Four focus areas […]
1 December 2020
AUSVEG SA is the state-wide representative body for South Australia’s $700 million vegetable industry. The VegNET – South Australia project allows AUSVEG SA to support the […]
30 November 2020
Fall armyworm What is fall armyworm? Fall armyworm (FAW) is the larval (caterpillar) stage of the moth species Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Native to the tropical […]
24 November 2020
Horticulture crops need nitrogen (N) to consistently produce high yielding and exceptional quality crops. The challenge is to select a nitrogen fertiliser product that will reduce […]
24 November 2020
On 9 November, Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water Guy Barnett announced that the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) will restart in Tasmania, with SWP workers able […]
24 November 2020
The best of the best in Gippsland’s food and fibre sector were recognised during an online presentation of the 2020 Food & Fibre Gippsland Excellence in Agribusiness […]
24 November 2020
In case you missed it, the Export Finance Webinar: Prepare for 2021 recording is now live on the AUSVEG website. In this webinar, AUSVEG, together with […]
19 November 2020
The Victorian Government is investing in the next generation of Victorian farmers, with a major budget boost to improve facilities and teaching at agricultural colleges and […]
17 November 2020
Apart from working in a consultancy role at RM Consulting Group (RMCG), Doris Blaesing also mentors people to help them develop in their careers. While she […]
17 November 2020
If you missed out on attending the industry-funded 2020 East Gippsland Vegetable Innovation Days (EGVID) in May, a library of professional videos produced from the event […]
17 November 2020
Heavy rainfall during the wet season in the Northern Territory can contribute to poor soil structure in crops. Given this, cover crops are typically grown as […]
17 November 2020
Fall armyworm (FAW) has been detected near Gingin, Western Australia, as part of a surveillance program run by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional […]
17 November 2020
Putting the ‘export puzzle’ pieces together. Tasmanian Product to Chinese Table To help you put the ‘export puzzle’ pieces together, a webinar from 9:30am – 12:30pm […]
17 November 2020
A new initiative funded by the Federal Government’s National Product Stewardship Investment Fund is set to dramatically reduce plastic waste in agriculture and develop this waste […]
17 November 2020
Grower members are encouraged to vote to elect three directors to the Hort Innovation Board at the Hort Innovation Annual General Meeting on Friday 27 November […]
17 November 2020
The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions is pleased to announce the commencement of the Seasonal Workers Accommodation Program (SWAP). SWAP is a $6 million grant […]
10 November 2020
Following a disrupted 2020, what challenges and opportunities does 2021 have in store? Uncertain economic conditions, currency fluctuations, export marketing budget constraints and an increased need […]
10 November 2020
A high-tech mobile surveillance unit was delivered at the end of October as part of Hort Innovation’s multi-agricultural industry surveillance initiative – iMapPESTS. The iMapPESTS: Sentinel […]
10 November 2020
AUSVEG has welcomed the establishment of a dispute resolution process under the Horticulture Code of Conduct. The process was established by the Australian Small Business and […]
10 November 2020
AgNova is pleased to launch Metarex Inov® – a new formulation of the already popular slug and snail bait Metarex®. Developed by DeSangosse Group in France, […]
10 November 2020
10 November 2020
AUSVEG has welcomed the launch of Free Trade Advantage – Austrade’s new online tool designed to help Australian exporters take advantage of Australia’s free trade agreements […]
10 November 2020
Click here to read AUSVEG’s latest update on its advocacy activities. While labour continues to be front and centre of AUSVEG’s advocacy discussions, this update also […]
10 November 2020
Freshcare has updated the Food Safety & Quality Standard for growers and grower/packers to version FSQ4.2 to meet the requirements of the GFSI v2020 benchmark criteria. […]
10 November 2020
Freshcare has updated the Food Safety & Quality Standard for growers and grower/packers to version FSQ4.2 to meet the requirements of the GFSI v2020 benchmark criteria. […]
10 November 2020
A reminder that from the first full pay period on or after 1 November 2020, new minimum rates and allowances start in awards for a range […]
10 November 2020
IPM Technologies has developed two hard-copy pocket guides for the identification of pests and beneficial species in potato crops and brassica crops. They are $12 plus […]
6 November 2020
Labour Labour issues are coming to a head with various growers walking away from crops or ploughing them into the ground across the country. It continues […]
4 November 2020
Hort Innovation has released the Industry Fund Annual Reports for the 2019/20 Vegetable Fund; the 2019/20 Potato Processing Fund; and the 2019/20 Potato Fresh Fund. In […]
4 November 2020
If you missed out on attending the industry-funded 2020 East Gippsland Vegetable Innovation Days (EGVID) in May, a library of professional videos produced from the event […]
4 November 2020
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) involves using biological control agents (beneficials), cultural controls and pesticides in a compatible way. For this to be successful, the integration of […]
4 November 2020
There are new health Directions from the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DDHS), affecting seasonal horticulture workplaces. Farm businesses have new responsibilities for managing […]
4 November 2020
The Australian Government has published two new spray drift guidance documents to assist registrants with applications to update spray drift instructions, apply for a new spray drift […]
4 November 2020
Beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii) can cause considerable yield loss to brassicas, beets, rhubarb and spinach. The nematode severely damages root systems, especially during the summer […]
4 November 2020
Labour continues to be central to AUSVEG’s advocacy activities as workforce shortages hit the sector throughout Australia. There are a number of state-by-state Government incentives available […]
4 November 2020
Serpentine leafminer (also known as Pea leafminer) Liriomyza huidobrensis has recently been found infesting field-grown vegetables in western Sydney. NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) […]
2 November 2020
There are new health Directions from the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DDHS), affecting seasonal horticulture workplaces. Farm businesses have responsibilities for managing seasonal […]
4 November 2020
Incidents like product substitution, contamination (deliberate or accidental) and false labelling put Australia’s reputation for being a high quality, reliable and safe food producer at risk. […]