From Phillip Island to Mallacoota & everywhere in between the VegNET Gippsland project helps vegetable growers with research & development to improve productivity & profitability.  This eNews supports growers and acknowledges the important roles of all along the value chain.  Have you enjoyed your five serves of veggies today??  Feedback welcome to: shayne.hyman@eastgippslandfoodcluster.com.au 

Thursday 12 April, all day inc. lunch On farm at Newry (location tbc)      Irrigation Basic Skills Training Cost = Free – Save The Date

Tuesday 10 & Tuesday 17 AprilLocation, Sale VIC, Venue (tbc)    Mental Health First Aid Training Invest two days & $50 to ensure your farm/business has a trained & certified Mental Health First Aider.  At this price it’s more than a wise investment

SAVE THE DATES

Thanks Bob Currie, spouse of Dr Roe Currie at Australasian Pacific Extension Network, for the calendar :)

Train for Improvement

Grower X:  What if I train them & they leave?!?   Gippsland Grower:  But what if you don’t & they stay!!!

Thursday 22 March, 8:30 – 10:00am Hort Code of Conduct Workshop  Lindenow Pub, Main Road

Thursday 22 March, 1:00 – 2:30pm  Hort Code of Conduct Workshop Maffra Community Sports Club

But wait, there’s more training to come … Negotiating & Influencing 31/5 & 7/6 Stratford;  Chemical Handling 5/6 & 6/6 Wonthaggi and 12/9 & 13/9 Lindenow; Postharvest Management of Vegetables 27/6 Lindenow, (date tbc) Wonthaggi; Babyleaf Pests & Disease (date & location tbc); Process Mapping 18/7 (location tbc) & 15/8 (location tbc); VegInnovation 21/8 Sale & 22/8 Korumburra, and more …

Value Adding to Vegetables is …

… not only about food (although plant-based protein is currently a hot topic)  What about agritourism?  Dietary Supplements? Nutraceuticals?  Pharmaceuticals?  Beauty products?  Get creative & make sure you attend the VegInnovation training in August.

Soil Health – Your farm, your country, your planet

FIAL (Food Innovation Australia Limited) recently released “Size of the Prize:  An overview of 16 global opportunities for Australian food & agribusiness”.  This impressive report states that Soil Health and Land Management are expected to reach between $65 – 85 billion by 2025.  What’s the opportunity for the vegetable industry? To learn more …

Women On Farms Gathering 2018

Just announced … the Gala Dinner will be onboard the Sorrento Queenscliff Searoad Ferry and comprise all things good to eat & drink from the Mornington Peninsula.  Live entertainment from Fanny Lumsden!  This event, in its 28th year, is not to be missed.

The second “Gippsland Women in Horticulture Advance” will be held on Thursday 23 August 2018.  Contact IDO Shayne 0417 330 081 to get involved in the planning.

CLICK .. CLICK .. CLICK  For ideas & information aplenty

  • Lake Wellington Land & Water Management Consultation Paper is available for comment  CLICK  Wellington Shire, Latrobe City & Baw Baw Shire growers/irrigators, here’s a summary  CLICK
  • Hort Connections 2018 Early Bird Savings close on 28 February  CLICK
  • Great Ocean Road, Grampians & Silo Art Tour for ladies leaves Sale on Monday 21 May – For cost and details  CLICK
  • “I need work-ready employees with PPE to work in my agricultural enterprise”  CLICK
  • What’s the connection between Soil, Productivity & Health?  Here’s two days to find out  CLICK
  • HARPS stands for “Harmonised Australian Retailer Produce Scheme” & you can work out whether your business needs it with a  CLICK
  • Join the East Gippsland Food Cluster today  CLICK
  • A few insights from the 2018 Spinach Conference in Spain  CLICK

The Gippsland region vegetable capacity building project (VegNET Gippsland) is proudly delivered by the East Gippsland Food Cluster.  For more information www.eastgippslandfoodcluster.com.au

The project is funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable levy and funds from the Australian Government. See more at www.horticulture.com.au

This project is all about increasing productivity and profitability for vegetable growers through the adoption of R&D, and, better communication all round.  Now let’s close this eNews with Busch Organic’s broccoli …