VegNET, is the national vegetable industry extension program that is run by growers, for growers.

The VegNET program will be led and coordinated by AUSVEG, with on-the-ground extension to be undertaken by trained and experienced regional development officers in organisations with strong grower networks in vegetable producing regions.

VegNET is funded by Hort Innovation, using the vegetable research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

The VegNET 3.0 project will run for five years and involves AUSVEG working closely with regional development officers who have strong grassroots connections with local growers. These officers will increase industry’s awareness of and engagement with best practices in high priority areas, and will help growers adopt practice changes to improve the productivity, profitability and competitiveness of their businesses. For more information on the national project head to their website here.

In Tasmania, VegNET will be delivered RM Consulting Group.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Get in touch

VegNET Regional Development Officer, Tasmania

B.Ag.Sci. (Hons), Dip.Hort.Bus.

Tayla is an agricultural scientist with experience across farming, manufacturing and FMCG account management. She has worked within a range of food supply chains in various management positions within the agriculture sector including working across fresh produce, dairy, meat and has a strong relationship with growers and producers nationally. Tayla is undertaking the VegNET Tasmania regional development officer role, delivering extension and technology transfer to the vegetable industry.

Get in touch with Tayla here: taylaf@rmcg.com.au or 0429 391 538

Check out the latest VegNET updates and sign up to the newsletter here.

Tayla Field

  • 30 Oct 2024

    Devise a biosecurity plan that is tailored to your needs. Work through the risks and actions to take to minimise biosecurity risks using this tool from the Farm Biosecurity website.

    Download

  • 12 Jul 2022

    This factsheet details some of the available options to utilise smart phones and other devices as part of your biosecurity program.

    Download

  • 21 Jul 2022

    This page shares resources for service providers to implement biosecurity plans and best practice in their business.

    Download

  • 12 Jul 2022

    Plant biosecurity is a series of measures that aid in protecting production areas from harmful insects, weeds, and various plant diseases. On-farm biosecurity best practices play a pivotal role in maintaining Australia’s reputation of producing high quality products.

    Watch

  • 12 Jul 2022

    This factsheet provides some lessons for service providers who are looking to implement or improve their biosecurity plans.

    Download

  • 12 Jul 2022

    This factsheet summarises the options available for the control of Fall Armyworm. This was retrieved from the APVMA in September 2020. Ensure you consult your agronomist to discuss control options and ensure compatibility with your rotation.

    Download

Biosecurity: Planning and Preparedness

  • 12 Jul 2022

    Chemicals play an important role in vegetable production and are regularly used to control insect pests, diseases and weeds. Poor spray application techniques can result in reduced control of pests, yield reduction, wasted chemicals, and lower returns to the grower.

    Watch

  • 23 Jan 2023

    This factsheet details strategies for minimising resistant weeds in high rainfall areas.

    Download

  • 21 May 2016

    Description: This webinar covers a range of topics relating to minor use permits for agrichemicals.

    Including:

    - A brief overview of minor use permits; what they are for, when they are appropriate, what would be considered minor use, minor crops vs major crops, and how APVMA treats them

    - The process for submitting an application, the supporting information required & common pitfalls to avoid when applying.

    - How regional differences and existing information is considered in reviewing the applications for Minor-use permits.

    Watch

Herbicide Resistance & Weed Management

Precision Agriculture and Ag-Tech Resources

  • This video shows the Strip-till machine in action.

    Watch

  • This factsheet details some of the benefits of strip tillage.

    Download

Soil and Nutrient Management

  • Watch industry leading researchers, practitioners and growers who tackle some of the most important questions about carbon management on vegetable farms during this webinar.

    What is the importance of soil carbon in vegetable production systems?

    Why should vegetable growers care about reducing carbon emissions?

    How do you calculate an emissions profile for your vegetable farm?

    What are the opportunities for vegetable growers under the Emissions Reduction Fund?

    When could participating in the ERF be viable for annual horticulture?

    This session is complemented by a range of useful podcasts and articles as part of the Soil Wealth ICP project team's global scan and review.

    Watch

  • The Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection (ICP) projects provide research and development (R&D) extension services, products and communication on improved soil management and plant health to the Australian vegetable industry.

    Link

  • This factsheet details how you can get more value from your applied fertiliser.

    Download

  • This factsheet from the Soilwealth project and VegNET Vic looks at how Precision Ag data can be utilised for on-farm decision making.

    Download

  • This document provides an update on the progress of the Cover Crop demo site at Hagley Farm School. This TAPG project is funded by a Smart Farms Small Grant and delivered with support from TIA & Serve-Ag.

    Download

  • Nitrogen is a key input in our farming systems. These resources assist growers and agronomists ensure they are using it efficiently

    Download NUE Calculator

    User Guides

    Please download the user guide to assist you with using the calculator and understanding nitrogen use efficiency

    NUE User Guide V1
    NUE User Guide V1 - Print Friendly

  • Do you need help booking or getting a chemcert?

    We have previously worked with TasTAFE to organise chem cert sessions for growers across the state.

    Reach out if this is something you need to arrange for you or your team!

  • Do you need help to arrange training for forklifts or telehandlers?

    Let us know and we can see what we can do to arrange training through a certified provider.

  • Do you have a farm safety plan in place?

    If not, or it’s time for an update, we can connect you with Safe Farming for the development of a FREE farm visit and safety plan for your business.

    https://worksafe.tas.gov.au/topics/services-and-events/safe-farming-tasmania

tRAINING mATERIALS & oPPORTUNITIES

VEGNET

RESOURCES

  • The Tasmanian VegNET project provides a monthly email update to the vegetable industry. The update provides relevant news, resources, information on upcoming events and training. To subscribe, head to this sign up sheet.

    View and sign up to our newsletter here

  • Strip-till in Tasmania; A reduced till faming system - Watch

    Integrated Pest Management of vegetable pests - a more sustainable approach (webinar recording) - Watch

    Spray technology for vegetable growers: a guide to getting it right (webinar recording) - Watch

    Future focus - robotics and intelligent systems in Australian vegetable production systems - Watch

    Biosecurity lessons in planning and response for the vegetable industry (webinar recording) - Watch

    Precision agriculture technology in vegetable production systems (webinar recording) - Watch

  • Fall armyworm - Download

    Spinach Crown Mite - Download

    Group A Herbicide Resistance - Download

    Precision Agriculture - Download

    Mechanisation in the

    Vegetable Industry - Download

    Fungicides and Fungicide

    Resistance - Download

    Sustaining Vegetable Production

    with Subsoil Manuring - Download

    Optimising soil health and

    yield with biofumigants - Download

    Strip till - Download

    Pest and Disease Identification - Download

    Pea Season Debrief - Download

    • Allison Clark - Where does the consumer fit?
      Presented at the Women in Vegetable Businesses Lunch April 2018
      Allison provides an overview of innovative product development, consumer insights, and data available.

      Download

    • VegNET Tasmania
      Presented at Simplot
      Roberts Industry Forum July 2017
      The presentation focuses on cover crops in vegetable production systems, including the risks, benefits and considerations.

      Download

    • Australian Onion Industry Overview
      Donna Lucas, RMCG, July 2019

      Download

    • Australian Potato Industry Overview
      Doris Blaesing RMCG, May 2019

      Download

Industry

RESOURCES

  • Hort Innovation - https://www.horticulture.com.au

    AUSVEG - https://ausveg.com.au

    Soil Wealth | ICP - https://soilwealth.com.au

    Postharvest management of Vegetables - https://www.postharvest.net.au

  • Healthy soils for vegetable sustainable farms - Download

    Soil Health For Farming In Tasmania - Download

    Postharvest management of vegetables - Australian supply chain handbook - Download

    Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Vegetable Industry - Download

    Farm Biosecurity Action Planner The essentials - Download

  • Matthew Wilson: Innovative packaging for horticultural products - Watch

    Water for Profit Overview | Sue Hinton - Watch

    Bill Cotching | Diagnosing Soil Health | Water for Profit - Watch

    Five Steps to Develop a Water Budget | Water for Profit - Watch

    Will Bignell | The Drone Revolution | 2017 Water for Profit State-Wide Event - Watch

    Vongai Dakwa 2017 - Improving the shelf life of baby leafy salad vegetables - Watch

    Tomato Potato Psyllid Surveillance and Training Program | Raylea Rowbottom - Watch

    Forthside Open Day 2017 - Tim Neale, Data Farming - Watch

  • Final reports of the following research and development projects can be found at http://www.ausveg.com.au/infoveg/index.htm. You will need to log in or create a free account before searching for each project using the 'VG' code or project title. Other resources such as fact sheets and handbooks will be uploaded to this website and can be found by clicking the links under each project title.

    • PRODUCTION / POSTHARVEST

    • PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT

    • MARKETING / SUPPLY CHAIN

    • FOOD SAFETY, HEALTH & NUTRITION

    • EXPORT FOCUS

    • ENVIRONMENT

    • COMMUNICATIONS

    • BIOSECURITY

Irrigation Resources

  • The weatherwise email sends you a weekly forecast daily to your inbox to help plan your potential irrigation requirements.

    Download Example

  • As the weather begins to warm up and we look towards the summer growing season, it’s a good time to prepare for your upcoming irrigation requirements. In this article, SWAN Systems shares some key considerations to get the best results from irrigation scheduling software over summer, as well as insights from a trial at Harvest Farms in Richmond, Tasmania.

  • While checking on the precision agriculture trial at our Koo Wee Rup demonstration site, team member Carl Larsen recorded a short video to share how a remote weather station and attached soil moisture probe are providing practical insights to inform irrigation scheduling decisions.

    Watch

  • A program to help Tasmanian farmers maximise their return on investment in irrigation Funded by the Tasmanian Government, the Water for Profit Program was designed to ensure farmers are equipped with the right skills and information to increase profits and sustainability from their investment in water. The project concluded in 2018. There are some great resources here to ensure you’re getting the most from your irrigation set up.

    Learn more

Keep up to date with the vegnet newsletter

The Tasmanian VegNET project provides a monthly email update to the vegetable industry. The update provides relevant news, resources, information on upcoming events and training.

View and sign up to our newsletter here.