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NSW Horticultural Industry and Extension e-Newsletter Issue 2 - October 2022 |
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In September, VegNET held a Soil Wealth and Cover Crops workshop for the NSW Australian-Cambodian vegetable growers, led by Dr Kelvin Montagu and Stephanie Tabone
from Applied Horticultural Research and the Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection project. It was a great day of learning about how to read soil test results and soil biology with a takeaway sample of seeds for those growers keen to try cover crops on their farms.
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To contact your VegNET Regional Development Officer, Sylvia Jelinek 0427 086 724 or sylvia.jelinek@lls.nsw.gov.auTo subscribe to AUSVEG click HERE.
Join VegNET HERE. In late August, VegNET held a well-received re-introduction workshop in Bucca on the Mid-North Coast of NSW. Pictured.
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The North Coast Greenhouse Cucumber Field Day saw 55 growers and allied industry representatives attend presentations on water and nutrient management principles by Tony Bundock, integrated pest and disease management update with Sylvia Jelinek and Matthew Parker from BioWorks, Julie Dart from North Coast Local Land Services updated growers on the Clean Coastal Catchments Project and Emily Johnston from NSW Department of Primary Industry (NSW DPI) provided an update on the Varroa mite bee pest incursion.
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Tuesday 25 October - VegNET and PCA Northwest Sydney Regional Tour, FREE for growers, Hurry registrations close Monday 19 October. Click HERE to register.
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Look out for further information on these upcoming events: November
- Tuesday 8 November – Greenhouse Vegetable Pest and Disease management farm walk, Bucca, Mid-North Coast
- Australian-Chinese Growers Chemical Training, Date TBC
- Australian-Chinese Growers Soil Health and Cover Crops Workshop, Date TBC
December- Corn and Fall Army Worm Workshop, Richmond, Date TBC
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NSW Severe Weather & Flooding June 2022 onwards
Special Disaster Grants The NSW and Australian Governments have announced additional assistance measures to support primary producers who have been affected by the floods and severe weather that occurred from 27 June 2022 onwards. Assistance is now being provided to 49 local government areas in NSW through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. Primary producers recovering from the devastating impacts of floods are receiving vital support, with Special Disaster Grants of up to $75,000 now available. Closing dates for applications from 12 January 2023. For further information click HERE. Critical Producer Grants The NSW and Australian governments are committed to providing ongoing support for communities affected by severe weather and flooding that occurred from February 2022 onwards, announcing the $100 million Critical Producer Grants, one of four recovery programs under the $150 million Primary Industry Support Package. The Critical Producer Grants provide funding to help impacted primary producers and primary production enterprises to rebuild and recover in the medium to longer term. Funding complements the $75,000 Special Disaster Grants and will support NSW agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture and forestry industries. Applications for the Critical Producer Grants are open until 30 June 2023. For further information click HERE. For assistance in applying contacts for each region can be found HERE.
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Are you or your staff responsible for applying agricultural chemicals? Has your chemical licence expired, or do you have staff that requires this qualification?
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Agricultural Chemical Skillset - AgSkilled - covers the skills and knowledge required to transport, handle, store, prepare and apply chemicals. Further courses for yourself or your farm staff, check out these available courses HERE. AgSkilled funding is available for staff of horticultural producers for Forklift Training and Assessment. The dates on offer are 20, 24, 26 or 29 October 2022, located at Blacktown. The Standard Forklift Course is 1 full day of training plus home study (to learn the theory) with the licence test just a half day (separate days). The full cost of the training and assessment is covered under AgSkilled, with only the $75 SafeWork Fee payable by the student, at the local Post Office. Click HERE to register.
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University of Tasmania are offering positions in the Graduate Diploma in Agribusiness. The Graduate Diploma in Agribusiness is an ideal stepping stone for those currently working in horticulture who wish to improve their management and leadership skills. Whether you're aiming to bring innovation to your current role or re-enter the industry, this course provides an essential foundation for senior and strategic decision-making positions. More information is available HERE. To hear from the course coordinator and learn more about Horticultural Business specialisations, register HERE for an online presentation to be held at 7pm, Tuesday 22 November 2022.
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Are you a grower, employee, or trainer in the vegetable industry? VegPRO is an industry education and training initiative that provides training and resources to the vegetable industry. Whether training is existing or just an idea, VegPRO is here to support your training needs. For more information click HERE.
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The Graduate Diploma/Graduate Certificate in Protected Cropping will educate future leaders for Australian
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horticulture via an innovative and flexible industry-supported training model. For more information on emerging leaders in protected cropping click HERE.
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Clean Coastal Catchments UpdateThe Clean Coastal Catchments (CCC) project team have been busy visiting growers in the North Coast region who received funding through the CCC project to improve water and nutrition management practices. In July, Paul and Karmjit Singh from Bucca received a grant to upgrade their irrigation system. They have installed grow scales that help to schedule irrigations more accurately. At a Field Day, hosted by the Singhs in August, field day participants saw view first-hand the current system and learned about future plans to adopt new technology. In August, Tony Bundock from Genesis Horticultural Solutions and Matthew Plunkett from Greater Sydney Local Land Services visited growers and assessed various irrigation and climate control systems in both berry and vegetable production. These systems have the potential to save up to 40% in water usage and 60% in fertiliser costs when managed effectively. Given the current cost of fertiliser and increasing costs of production, several growers are moving toward fully enclosed water recycling systems. Training is a primary focus for the project over the coming year with a range of extension activities scheduled for 2023. Stay tuned for further information on these activities. For further information, please contact Matthew Plunkett on 0428 978 390 or matthew.plunkett@lls.nsw.gov.au Find out more on the CCC website
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National Map of Protected Cropping Structures |
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The University of New England’s Applied Agricultural Remote Sensing Centre, Protected Cropping Australia, Greater Sydney and North Coast Local Land Services and Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre have joined forces in a Hort Innovation co-funded project to develop a national map of protected cropping structures including commercial nets, polytunnels, shade houses and glasshouses. Read HERE for more information on the project. Protected cropping growers can participate in a quick survey in helping to building the national map of Australia’s protected cropping systems HERE.
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Varroa Mite UpdateAuthorities are baiting feral bees, more than three months after varroa mite was detected at the Port of Newcastle. The baiting program targets feral European honeybees in varroa mite hotspots, or 'red zones', in NSW. NSW DPI will continue to euthanise managed hives in red zones before using feral bee baits in the zones. It is believed all feral bees in red zones must be destroyed if eradication of varroa mite in Australia is to be successful. The mites are tiny reddish-brown parasites and individual mites are easily identifiable to the naked eye. Australia is the only major honey producing country free from Varroa mite, the most serious pest of honeybees worldwide. The potential impact of Varroa mite to the honey and broader primary industries of NSW is very significant. For further information, guidelines and contacts please click HERE.
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Smart Farms and EnviroVeg Program |
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The vegetable industry’s EnviroVeg program was developed using national vegetable levy funds and matching Commonwealth funds through Hort Innovation. However, the uptake of best practice water and nutrient management within the industry has been low.
Greater Sydney LLS has received funding from the Australian Government to undertake a project to improve the rate of adoption of best practice water and nutrient management by vegetable growers in NSW. Current vegetable growing practices often result in over-use of water and fertiliser inputs with the consequences of nutrient enriched water runoff entering the waterways and the environment. Farmers will benefit from more efficient water and fertiliser use in adopting best management practices and lead to cost savings. As a result, the outcomes of this project will result in a ‘win-win’ for the farmer and the environment. Please contact Sylvia Jelinek on 0427 086 724 for further information.
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Lvl 4, 2-6 Station Street Penrith NSW 2750 Australia
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