Welcome to the first VegNET newsletter for 2020. Our thoughts are with growers who have been, or continue to be impacted by fire, drought and flooding across many parts of NSW. The NSW Department of Primary Industries have developed a Natural Disaster Assistance Guide for Primary Producers. Please contact Local Land Services if you require assistance on 1300 795 299 or visit www.lls.nsw.gov.auFor a copy of the guide please click HERE. | | Greater Sydney Zucchini and Precision AG Forum a great success | | More than 80 people turned out to the New South Wales VegNET field day, which was held late last year at the Greater Sydney Local Land Services (GS LLS) Demonstration Farm on the Richmond Lowlands. GS LLS partnered with one of the biggest rural suppliers in NSW, Ace O hlsson, and seed companies Terranova, Lefroy Valley, HM Clause and South Pacific Seeds to showcase over 20 zucchini varieties. To read more about this field day look out for it in your copy of Vegetables Australia Magazine - Autumn Issue or visit HERE. | | | Growers and industry hearing about the zucchini trials | | | Greenhouse Cucumber Production Manual 2019 edition | | This manual is FREE to vegetable levy payers. Download your copy HERE. | | | Greater Sydney Local Land Services, in partnership with Applied Horticultural Research and the NSW Department of Primary Industries have updated the 2010 commercial Greenhouse Cucumber Manual.
“The manual now has a farm biosecurity and food safety section together with updates on pest and disease management and nutrition," said Matthew Plunkett, NSW Vegetable Industry Development Officer.
The manual has detailed technical information on agronomy, pest and disease management, hydroponics, postharvest and work health and safety and more.
| | | Levy Funded R&D Updates... | | Harvest to home – Consumer Research Data | | Hort Innovation have contracted Nielsen to research consumer preferences and shopping habits for a range of vegetables, fruit and other commodities. The aim of this research is to help growers make better informed decisions about growth in certain crops and decide what other crops they could consider diversifying into. You can click on the following website and click the commodity. Please click HERE for further details | | | Nielsen Homescan data for the Australian vegetable industry is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.
| | | Encouraging Beneficial insects
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See VegNET farmer Michael Willott get involved with the Charles Sturt University project VG16062 Field and Landscape management to support beneficial athropods for IPM on vegetable farms funded by Hort Innovation. Instead of pesticides, the trial looks at getting insects on side. Click HERE to read more.
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| Greater Sydney Local Land Services in partnership with Ace Ohlsson will be holding a Sweet Corn Field Day at the Greater Sydney LLS Demonstration Farm (Richmond Lowlands NSW) on Friday 13 March, 2020 The event will begin with a 12pm BBQ lunch followed by a farm walk at 1pm. Come and see first hand the different varieties of corn available on the market and speak with representatives from Lefroy Valley, Sunland, Seminis and Fairbanks seed companies. Register HERE or call 0427 741 956 | | | East Gippsland Vegetable Innovation Days 2020 | | The East Gippsland Vegetable Innovation Days (EGVID) return in 2020 (Monday 4 May to Friday 8 May) with a focus on innovation, future farmers, collaboration, food security, sustainability and wellbeing. EGVID 2020 will run in Partnership with the Tenth International Spinach Conference. The days have been designed to showcase new and innovative produce, with spinach, lettuce, leafy brassicas, rocket, kale, beet/chard and a selection of other leafy vegetables on the forefront. For more information check out the EGVID facebook page and twitter account or contact VegNET IDO Shayne Hyman on 0417 330 081 or Bonnie Dawson. | | Hort Frontiers Leadership | | The Hort Frontiers Leadership Fund identifies, builds and empowers future industry leaders so the most effective integration of land, labour, capital and entrepreneurship occurs in horticultural production. The fund provides opportunities for horticulture professionals at all stages of their careers to advance along the ladder of leadership and attracts a new generation to Australian horticulture by showcasing the dynamic career paths that exist. If you’ve got an idea for a Leadership Fund initiative, or if you’re a business who’d like to take part in an existing program, get in touch with Hort Innovation's Relationship Manager Jane Wightman today. Click HERE for more information. | | VegNET Practice Change Videos |
| UNE and Integrated Weed Management | | VG15070 - A strategic approach to weed management for the Australian Vegetable Industry
| | | | VegNET Protected Cropping Toolkit | | VegPRO - Handling Fresh Produce Safely | | | This VegPRO training course has been designed to ensure that fresh pickers and those that handle fresh produce understand the importance of handling vegetables in a clean and safe manner to manage the risk of food contamination. Click HERE for more information. | | | For further details or to get involved with VegNET please contact: Matthew Plunkett Project Leader on 0428 978 390 or matthew.plunkett@lls.nsw.gov.au Sylvia Jelinek Vegetable Industry Development Officer on 0427 086 724 or sylvia.jelinek@lls.nsw.gov.au Alternatively (02) 4724 2100 or veg.network@lls.nsw.gov.au | | This project has been funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government. For more information on the fund and strategic levy investment visit horticulture.com.au | | |
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