Vegetable Grower NOTES
NOTES are published to update members
on Association matters between editions of Vegetables Victoria MagazineWe trust that you find these GROWER NOTES both interesting and informative
 

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Luis Gazzola – Life MembershipSincere congratulations are extended to Luis Gazzola who was granted a VGA-Vic Life Membership at the 2015 Annual General Meeting…. Go to article.

David Wallace Re-electedThe 2015 VGA-AGM held on Friday the 9th of October confirmed David Wallace as President for 2016.
The meeting also elected the… Go to article.

Growing Leaders ProgramApplications are now open for the
2016
Growing Leaders
National Vegetable Industry Leadership Program
Go to article.

Broccoli to JapanThe key findings from the HIA and vegetable levy funded project -Market Analysis and Strategy: Broccoli to Japan- are now available… Go to article.

NOTICE AGM 2015VGA Victoria Members, have your say !Annual General Meeting
of the
Vegetable Growers Association of Victoria Inc…. Go to article.

Young Farmers CouncilThe Victorian Government is establishing a new Young Farmers Ministerial Advisory Council.
The Council will advise government… Go to article.

EXPO – End of an EraSadly, like many other industry events the National Vegetable EXPO – Werribee, is no more.
The National Vegetable Expo Committee… Go to article.

Veg-WHSWorkplace Health and Safety (WHS) has been identified as a concern for vegetable growers.
RMCG has been leading a project for… Go to article.

Port of MelbourneVGA- Vic staff recently had the opportunity to tour the Port of Melbourne as a member of the DEPI Horticultural Industry Network…. Go to article.

PMA Trade DayOver 800 delegates visited the PMA Fresh Connections trade day held last week at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre as part of the… Go to article.

Soil Wealth Farm WalkSoils are the powerhouse of vegetable production. See how you can better manage your soil at the Soil Wealth Farm Walk…. Go to article.

2016 Nuffield ScholarshipsGrowers are encouraged to apply for one of the Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarships available for 2016.
You can apply if… Go to article.

Compost Field DayA field walk was held recently at Arnotts Vegetable Farms at Clyde, to share and discuss the findings of trials on the application… Go to article.

Grants for small exportersMinister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce recently announced applications are being sought for more than $11 million in grants to… Go to article.

Ken Orr – VGA Executive OfficerWe are pleased to announce the appointment of Ken Orr as our new Executive Officer.
Ken has extensive experience with production… Go to article.

Horticulture Centre of ExcellenceMinister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh has officially opened the new Horticulture Centre of Excellence at Tatura,… Go to article.

Fenthion DecisionMost products containing the chemical FENTHION are now cancelled bringing to a close the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines… Go to article.

Annual General Meeting 2014Congratulations to David Wallace who was re-elected as President of the Vegetable Growers Association of Victoria at the Annual… Go to article.

New Appointments at AUSVEGAUSVEG is pleased to welcome Dr Jessica Lye on board as Biosecurity and Special Projects Officer and Scott Kwasny as Minor Use… Go to article.

Award for Richard BennettRichard Bennett, Technology Manager with PMA Australia and New Zealand, has been awarded the Ross Peters Memorial Award for Excellence… Go to article.

Broccoli Export SeminarIn June, Trade and Investment Queensland held a Broccoli to Japan Seminar at the AUSVEG Convention in Cairns.
Japan is known… Go to article.

Honours for Silvio FaveroVGA Vic congratulates Silvio Favero on receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2014 AUSVEG National Awards for Excellence… Go to article.

Nathan Free – Young Grower AwardOur congratulations go to fourth generation Victorian vegetable farmer Nathan Free (24) from Lake Boga, near Swan Hill.
Nathan… Go to article.

New Wage RatesGrowers are reminded that
new wage and superannuation
rates apply from 1st JulyFrom first pay… Go to article.

Tony calls it a day !Tony Imeson, Executive Officer of Vegetable Growers Association of Victoria has decided to call it a day.
To use an old expression… Go to article.

Rabobank Vegetable Growers DinnerA group of 20 guests enjoyed a delightful meal at Beletti’s Restaurant in Dandenong. John McCormick Victorian Rural Manager… Go to article.

Leafy Vegetable Demonstration DayVegetable Growers, Nursery Operators, Industry Advisors and Suppliers are invited to the :East Gippsland Leafy Vegetable… Go to article.

Horticulture – The Next GenerationAre you a Business Leader in the
Australian Horticulture Industry ?
Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL), is looking for… Go to article.

Levy Payer Meetings 2014The annual AUSVEG / HAL Regional Roadshow has now been held in Werribee and Cranbourne.
The events provided local growers with… Go to article.

OH & S TrainingRecent events have highlighted the need for Health and Safety training for staff on Victorian vegetable farms.Do you or… Go to article.

White Blister Field DayVGA Vic Executive Manager, Helena Whitman joined Growers and industry experts at the White Blister field day in Werribee last week…. Go to article.

Clearing Native VegetationNative vegetation comprises plants that are indigenous to Victoria, including trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses.
In Victoria,… Go to article.

National Awards for ExcellenceNominations for the AUSVEG 2014
National Awards for Excellence are now open
The Awards highlight the success and outstanding… Go to article.

National Heavy Vehicle RegulatorFrom the 10th of February 2014, the Heavy Vehicle National Law and Regulations (HVNL), will apply in Victoria, Queensland, New… Go to article.

Free Energy AuditsInfotech Research has been engaged by Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) to conduct free energy audits for levy paying vegetable… Go to article.

Farm Dam DangerThe dam is not a swimming pool !
With the recent heatwave and more to come, Southern Rural Water has put out a timely reminder… Go to article.

Negotiation TrainingEnhanced Influencing & Negotiation Effectiveness Training
Enrol NOW• Have you found yourself leaving a discussion… Go to article.

R&D on your phoneInfoVeg, a new mobile and tablet friendly research database application for vegetable growers, has just been released by AUSVEG…. Go to article.

EnviroVeg App LaunchedAUSVEG has launched a new iPhone/iPad application for growers participating in the EnviroVeg program.
Go to article.

2013 Annual General MeetingOur 2013 Annual General Meeting was held on Friday 18th October and confirmed the re-election of David Wallace as President and… Go to article.

Promoting the Health Benefits of VegetablesTwo Veggycation workshops, communicating the health benefits of vegetables, were held in Victoria during September and attended… Go to article.

Chemical SecurityA wide range of readily available chemicals are used by Australian individuals and businesses every day.
Ninety-six of these… Go to article.

Vic Grower Wins Nuffield ScholarshipThe Vegetable Growers Association of Victoria congratulate Emma Germano, vegetable grower from Mirboo North in Victoria, on being… Go to article.

R&D Project Design TeamsVegetable Levy Payers who have an interest in developing R&D projects, are invited to register their interest in serving on… Go to article.

Cooperative Marketing GrantsThe Victorian Government, in partnership with Rural Finance, are offering grants to promote the establishment of new marketing… Go to article.

2013 Golf Day at Lang LangA bright sunny morning on Friday 2 August brought 80 golfers to Lang Lang for the annual VGA-Vic Golf Day,
proudly sponsored… Go to article.

Lettuce ClassificationsSalad mix producers need to be aware of the MRL classification for each component in their mix.
Not all salad mix components… Go to article.

Cost of Production SurveyHorticulture Australia have engaged RMCG to investigate the costs associated with the production, sale and distribution of Vegetables…. Go to article.

Biosecurity SurveyHow good is the Australian vegetable industry’s
biosecurity preparedness ?
Horticulture Australia has commissioned Macquarie… Go to article.

New Migrant Worker ActNew penalties take effect on 1 June 2013
Details of the requirements under the amended Migration Act and Regulations are now… Go to article.

What is a head of lettuce?(revised 21 July 2013)
Although the answer seems obvious to lettuce growers, this is not as clear cut when it comes to what appears… Go to article.

1800 AGRONOMISTVGA-Vic welcomes the “1800 Agronomist” advice hotline for vegetable growers, launched this week by HAL and AUSVEG. … Go to article.

Pest Solutions OnlineTwo free pest solution information services are now available online.Infopest – pest solutions now available free… Go to article.

Werribee EXPO SuccessAnother great National Vegetable EXPO was held at Werribee on the 2nd & 3rd May. Congratulations to everyone involved for making… Go to article.

Werribee EXPO 20132nd and 3rd May
National Vegetable EXPO at Werribee
With over 50 Trade Displays and 11 Seed Companies displaying the best… Go to article.

R&D Levy WorkshopVGA Vic President David Wallace and Executive staff Tony Imeson and Helena Whitman recently attended a workshop in Sydney convened… Go to article.

BAIRNSDALE – CLEARING SALEMonster Surplus Horticultural &
Hay Making Machinery
Clearing Sale
– BAIRNSDALE –
Saturday 11th May 2013 10.30am
(viewing… Go to article.

Nuffield Scholarships 2014 – Apply Now !Nuffield Australia has just opened its application process for 2014 Scholarships, with a record 24 Scholarships available to primary… Go to article.

Boomaroo Wins Farmer of the Year AwardOur congratulations go to VGA members Theo and Eric Jacometti for winning the Weekly Times “Farmer of the Year” award…. Go to article.

Get into TWITTERTwitter can bring you relevant business information from many sources, right to your phone, on a regular basis. What you get depends… Go to article.

APVMA iPhone AppThe Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has announced the release of an iPhone application that makes… Go to article.

Success with CompostA major priority for successful vegetable farming is the need for sustainable year round production. When planning field operations… Go to article.

Feeding a Growing MelbourneLast Thursday, VGA President, David Wallace joined a panel discussing Melbourne’s food future as part of the Sustainable Living… Go to article.

Call for New Project IdeasHAL and AUSVEG have announced a new opportunity for growers and grower groups to suggest R&D projects for consideration by… Go to article.

Fresh Produce SafetyA new Fresh Produce Safety – Australia & New Zealand website has recently been launched with the aim of providing the… Go to article.

Safety near ChannelsWith summer holidays upon us, all parents are being urged by VGA Vic and Southern Rural Water to be as vigilant around channels… Go to article.

Love My SaladLove My Salad is a positive campaign focusing on direct consumer engagement to help increase vegetable consumption and advance… Go to article.

Stamp Duty Eased for Young FarmersThe Victorian State Government will double the threshold of stamp duty concessions for young farmers following a review of the… Go to article.

New Faces on Water CommitteeSouthern Rural Water has welcomed three new members to the irrigation district’s Customer Consultative Committee (CCC), Werribee… Go to article.

Vale – Joseph SchreursWe sadly mark the passing of Joseph Schreurs on 18 Oct 2012, aged 90 years.
Joseph worked with vegetable crops all his life, beginning… Go to article.

Fire Services LevyFrom the 1st of July 2013, the Fire Services Levy will be incorporated into Council Rates rather than tied in with Insurance Schemes…. Go to article.

A Food Hub in Casey ? Food for Thought …
Preliminary research is being conducted into the potential for the creation of a Food Hub in the City… Go to article.

2012 Annual General MeetingThe 2012 AGM held on Friday 12 October confirmed the re-election of David Wallace as President and endorsed the 2012-2013 Office… Go to article.

Ministry of Food Opens in GeelongVGA representatives had the privilege of attending the launch of Jamie’s Ministry of Food kitchen in Geelong last week.
The… Go to article.

Integrated Pest ManagementIntegrated Pest Management, (IPM), is a broad based approach that combines a range of practices to economically control plant pests…. Go to article.

Opportunities for StudentsWith the pressure on agriculture production to feed a rapidly growing world population, agriculture will become an increasingly… Go to article.

Migrant Amendment BillProposed amendments to the Migration Bill (Reform of Employer Sanctions) will place growers under further pressure to ensure… Go to article.

Vale – Mick TullioWe sadly mark the passing of Mick Tullio on 21st August 2012.
Mick was born on the 8th February 1946, the fifth of Salvatore… Go to article.

Parsley & Parsnip WorkshopA disease management workshop was held at Chisholm Institute of TAFE at Cranbourne on 2nd August 2012.
Researchers presented… Go to article.

New R&D ProcessA recent report from AUSVEG CEO Richard Mulcahy outlined the new structure for project funding by HAL.
IAC Committee chair Jeff… Go to article.

Rabobank Hosts Industry DinnerThe recent industry dinner hosted by Rabobank, was well attended by growers and other representatives of the vegetable industry…. Go to article.

Field Crop Chemicals Not Welcome IndoorsField crop growers with areas of protected crops could risk misusing chemicals if they assume that a product recommended for… Go to article.

Long Term Soil HealthA major priority for successful vegetable farming is the need for sustainable year-round production. When planning field operations… Go to article.

Quad Bike SafetyFour wheeled motorbikes (quad bikes) are a leading cause of death and serious injury on Australian farms.
In 2011, there were… Go to article.

Composts for Healthy SoilsThe Westernport Catchment Landcare Network recently hosted a ‘Soils and Composts’ Field Day at the Kooweerup property… Go to article.

Fertiliser StabilisersA recent Field Day at A & G Lamattina’s farm at Boneo was organised by DPI Victoria to demonstrate the results of a 4-year… Go to article.

Top Awards for VictoriansLast Saturday night saw Victorian growers take out two of Australia’s top Vegetable Industry Awards.
The Awards were presented… Go to article.

Herb & Spice SeminarThe Australian Herb and Spice Industry Association – AHSIA, recently held a Future Directions Seminar in Ballarat.
Excellent… Go to article.

AUSVEG Levy MeetingThe final division of HAL project funding under the Strategic Investment Plan was reported to Victorian growers on Tuesday 3rd… Go to article.

Flower & Garden Show a HitThe DPI Horticulture Industry Network (HIN) hosted a meeting of Industry Development and Executive Officers at the recent Melbourne… Go to article.

FarmReady Subsidy Ends SoonGrowers are reminded that the FarmReady subsidy ends on 31st May, 2012.
If you have been thinking about doing a food safety… Go to article.

Food & Wine FestivalLocal vegetable growers proudly displayed their fresh produce at the recent Melbourne Food and Wine Festival celebrations held… Go to article.

Manual Handling – Lindenow WorkshopGrowers are invited to attend a workshop to discuss the development of simple, practical solutions to a wide range of common manual… Go to article.

Executive Manager AppointedVGA President David Wallace is pleased to announce the appointment of Helena Whitman as Executive Manager of VGA Victoria, effective… Go to article.

Manual Handling – Cranbourne WorkshopGrowers are invited to attend a workshop to discuss the development of simple, practical solutions to a wide range of common manual… Go to article.

Manual Handling – Werribee WorkshopGrowers are invited to attend a workshop to discuss the development of simple, practical solutions to a wide range of common manual… Go to article.

Young Leaders 2012This is a great opportunity for any young grower wanting to develop their skills, ability and understanding of how to make a positive… Go to article.

Workplace Safety – Mobile Phones & DevicesMobile phones are an essential tool for vegetable businesses. However, electronic devices such as mobile phones and iPods, can… Go to article.

Young Growers Tour WABetween 9th – 12th August 2011, ten Victorian growers, aged between 18 and 30, participated in a whirlwind four day study… Go to article.

Workplace Safety – Slow Moving MachineryA recent meeting organized by VGA-Victoria, saw twenty vegetable growers and machinery engineers discuss issues of worker safety,… Go to article.

Levy Investment – Have Your Say ! The Vegetable Industry’s Strategic Investment Plan is now available for comment. You are urged to have your say on recommendations… Go to article.

John Runting – VGA Field OfficerVGA Victoria are pleased to announce the appointment of John Runting as our Field Officer for Eastern Victoria.
John replaces… Go to article.

Harvest PicnicVGA Victoria attended the annual Harvest Picnic Day at Werribee Mansion last month to support the marketing team from the Melbourne… Go to article.

New Director for AUSVEGLuis Gazzola Past President and current executive committee member of Vegetable Growers Association of Victoria (VGAVic) was… Go to article.

Vegetable Apprenticeships and TrainingThe search is on for guidance from vegetable employers on the types of training and accreditation to be offered to employees. … Go to article.

Bill Bulmer joins VGA ExecutiveLindenow grower Bill Bulmer was elected as a member of the VGA executive committee at the recent VGA Annual General Meeting.
Bill… Go to article.

Food Alliance Discussion GroupVGA Victoria participated in a Food Alliance discussion group at Deakin University on Monday 17th October.
The Food Alliance… Go to article.

New VGA PresidentVegetable Grower from Keilor David Wallace was elected as the new VGA President at the Annual General Meeting held last week…. Go to article.

Future Levy InvestmentOver the past month AUSVEG have presented a Draft Strategic Investment Plan at grower meetings around Australia.
A draft plan… Go to article.

Gippsland Growers Meeting 2011More than 30 vegetable growers and industry representatives attended the East Gippsland Vegetable Growers dinner at Lindenow… Go to article.

Improving Horticulture TrainingVGA-Victoria has been invited to be part of the on-going process to improve Vegetable Traineeships and Apprenticeships.
It… Go to article.

Lettuce Study TourVGA IDO East Slobodan Vujovic, gives us an overview of his recent study tour to the USA and Italy.
The tour was organised… Go to article.

Watch out for AnthracnoseAfter years of drought, growers are now experiencing perfect conditions for the development of lettuce anthracnose.
Anthracnose… Go to article.

Horticulture Service FinderThe Horticulture Service Finder application has been developed as a free service to help Australian horticultural growers find… Go to article.

Vale – Stan WallaceWe pay tribute to Stanley (Stan) Wallace who passed away on 29 July, 2011 in Keilor, aged 96 years and who until only a few months… Go to article.

Tribute to Max MuirWe sadly mark the passing of Max Muir, Chairman of E.E. Muir & Sons, on the 7th June 2011, aged 85.
Max is remembered as… Go to article.

Trials Tackle DiseaseThree Victorian field trials have begun to compare ways of controlling Pythium diseases in Parsnip and Parsley crops.
Pythiums… Go to article.

Women in HorticultureWomen working in Victoria’s Vegetable and Fruit industries are encouraged to apply now for the 2011-12 ‘Women in Horticulture’… Go to article.

C-Calc for Healthy SoilsA computer-based tool is now available to assist growers estimate the amount of organic matter returned to the soil following different… Go to article.

Rod Hall – Membership ServicesWe are very pleased to announce the appointment of Rod Hall as our Membership Services Coordinator.
Rod has worked in several… Go to article.

Local Weather ForecastsAccurate 7 day local Victorian weather forecasts are now freely available from the Bureau of Meteorology. The Bureau has been evaluating… Go to article.

Lettuce Anthracnose WorkshopMore than 60 growers, nursery, seed, agrichemical companies, researchers, consultants and industry representatives, attended the… Go to article.

Expo Seminars Inform GrowersVGA-Victoria hosted a popular seminar series over the two days of the National Vegetable Expo held at Werribee, earlier this month…. Go to article.

Expo a WinnerThe National Vegetable Expo has again proved to be a winner with excellent support from Growers and Industry Suppliers.
The Expo… Go to article.

Expo Seminars for GrowersThe National Vegetable Expo is an event not to be missed. VGA-Victoria is proud to present a series of informative seminars on… Go to article.

2011 Women in Horticulture AwardDeborah Corrigan has received the 2011 Women in Horticulture Award in recognition of her outstanding ability and commitment to… Go to article.

2011 Young Grower of the YearFouth generation Victorian vegetable farmer Andrew Bulmer has been named Young Grower of the year at the AUSVEG 2011 National Convention… Go to article.

Restoring Flood Affected SoilsThis drought breaking summer has been one of the wettest on record. Periods of intense rain have caused major flooding in many… Go to article.

Vegetable Levy MeetingVictorian growers met at Werribee on the 4th March to comment on the Vegetable Research Levy.
The National Vegetable Levy was… Go to article.

Reducing Injuries on Your Farm The Victorian Farm Safety Centre has begun a new project which aims to help growers identify and control manual handling hazards… Go to article.

Adopt a FarmerThe Organic School Gardens ‘Adopt a Farmer’ Program was launched at Ladybird Organics Farm in Keilor on 23rd February.
The ‘Adopt… Go to article.

Have Your Say ! AUSVEG is holding a number of Vegetable Levy Payer meetings around Australia with the Victorian meeting being held in Werribee…. Go to article.

Insect Trap MonitoringInsect traps are routinely used to estimate pest pressure in crops so action can be taken before numbers get high enough to cause… Go to article.

Young Growers Join VGA CommitteeThe appointment of two young growers to the VGA committee will provide a fresh outlook from younger growers who are accepting operational… Go to article.

Energy Savings for MembersAre you paying too much for electricity ?
The Vegetable Growers’ Association of Victoria, in partnership with Commercial… Go to article.

Frais Farms – GippslandVGA member Kim Martin manages Frais Farms on the Lindenow flats of the Mitchell River in East Gippsland.
Kim grew up on the… Go to article.

Dealing with Locust SwarmsAll Victorian vegetable growers are at risk of losing crops to locust swarms this summer.
Vegetables such as carrots, cucurbits… Go to article.

White Blister – CabbageWhite blister disease, caused by the fungus Albugo candida, was recently found on a cabbage crop in Werribee South.
The disease… Go to article.

Locust Update for Southern VictoriaIt’s no longer IF but WHENAdult locust sightings have been reported as far south as Mornington Peninsular and particularly… Go to article.

Lettuce Downy MildewDowny mildew is a fungal disease of lettuce caused by the fungus Bremia lactucae.
This foliar disease affects crop yield and… Go to article.

Bunyip Food BeltMelbourne’s South East contains some of Australia’s most fertile agriculture land and produces fresh food for Melbourne’s… Go to article.

Lettuce Big Vein VirusLettuce Big-Vein (LBV), is a viral disease which is transmitted from plant to plant by the soilborne fungus Olpidium brassicae…. Go to article.

Young Grower Joins VGAMatt Zagami operates AvoGrow Farms at Wairewa, 40km NE of Lakes Entrance in East Gippsland. Matt is one of the youngest vegetable… Go to article.

Mallee Growers Prepare for LocustsMallee vegetable growers have been briefed on the latest preparations for what experts agree is likely to be the worst locust… Go to article.

Green Manure CropsGreen manure crops are usually grown to add organic matter and nutrients to land that would otherwise be left vacant.
They… Go to article.

2010 Golf Day SuccessA quality field of 25 teams enjoyed a truly great day of golf at the magnificent Lang Lang Golf Course on 6th August 2010…. Go to article.

Snow Pea IPM WorkshopGippsland Snow Pea growers benefited from the recent Integrated Pest Management workshop at Korumburra.
The workshop was… Go to article.

Pacific Seasonal Workers SchemeVegetable growers struggling to source local labour should consider the ‘Pacific Seasonal Worker Scheme’ being… Go to article.

Locusts 2010Victoria is gearing up for the greatest locust threat in 40 years …
Australian Plague Locusts can be devastating… Go to article.