vegetables WA

Nominate Now and Help Shape the Future of WA Agriculture!

Western Australian producers — nominations are open for APC Producers’ Committees across all sectors. Drive growth, innovation, and biosecurity in your industry by serving a three-year term.

Deadline | 4th May 2026

👉To learn more and nominate, head to www.apcwa.org.au/join-apc

𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐖𝐀 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐌𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐩 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 – 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝!
Join us for an afternoon of industry insights, in‑field learning and expert presentations focused on carrot and onion production, pest & disease management, biosecurity, R&D projects, grants, insurance, and post‑harvest processes followed by a Sundowner.

🎤 Hear from industry experts, including:
𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 - DJI T100 drone demo (programming & flight) | Judy
𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐕𝐄𝐆 – Biosecurity & extension projects | Zarmeen Hassen
𝐑𝐌𝐂𝐆 – Soil, crop health & nutrition | Doris Blaesing
𝐃𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐃 – Carrot Project update | Neil Lantkze
𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐦 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫 – Making the most of your insurance | Dylan Panizza
𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 & 𝐏𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 – RED Grants | Stefan Chappell & Emma Fishburn

𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐬, 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐉𝐈 𝐓𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧‑𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝.

👉 Register via https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/vegetables-wa-myalup-roadshow-tickets-1986201230347

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐀 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 – 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬!
We’re checking back in with WA horticulture growers to make sure the training we deliver is practical, accessible, and actually useful on farm.
Do you or your team need First Aid, Forklift, WHS, or other workplace certifications?

𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?
Your feedback helps us prioritise the right programs and deliver training that supports growers across the state.

👉 Have your say and help shape future industry training, go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSduRg7jjGpTLxEM8F4ZIx6Q8JZZnZ4_DyEMgGSNAM6mYWVQqQ/viewform

Final preparations are underway for the 𝐯𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐖𝐀 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐌𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐩 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰, and it’s shaping up to be a standout event for the South West vegetable industry!
Expect a full day packed with practical insights, in‑field demonstrations, and the latest industry updates, designed to support informed decisions on farm.
Speakers will be announced soon, featuring respected voices from across the industry.

𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦:
• Carrot and onion production updates
• Pest, disease management & biosecurity insights
• R&D projects and available grant opportunities

𝐈𝐧‑𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
• Carrot pack‑out and post‑harvest insights
• DJI T100 Sprayer & Spreader Drone demonstration

👉To register go to: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/vegetables-wa-myalup-roadshow-tickets-1986201230347
Keep an eye out next week for further announcements.

Grower funding is now open for Hort Connections 2026.

Levy-paying Australian fruit, vegetable, and nut growers can apply for reimbursement of up to $1,250 (interstate) or $750 (SA-based) to assist with attending Hort Connections in Adelaide.

This initiative is designed to support grower participation across the industry, helping more businesses, connect, learn, and engage at Hort Connections.

Funding is limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. We encourage early applications.

👉 Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/4trpuaQ

AUSVEG’s latest update on the Middle East conflict’s major impacts emphasises the lasting, widespread uncertainty for Australian vegetable growers means the vegetable industry must be recognised as an essential sector to Australia’s food security, and growers given certainty from government about how they will be prioritised for access to critical inputs during the protracted conflict, and beyond.

You can read the full update here: https://ausveg.com.au/article/update-for-vegetable-growers-and-industry-on-middle-east-conflict-impacts/

To receive regular updates like this direct to your inbox, subscribe to AUSVEG’s Weekly Update here: https://ausveg.com.au/news-publications/weekly-update/

𝐯𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐖𝐀 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲!
We’re heading down the coast this May for the 𝐌𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐩 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰.
Join vegetablesWA for a day of industry updates, in‑field insights and demonstrations, including:
• Carrot and onion production updates
• Pest and Disease Management, and Bio Security
• R&D projects and RED grant information
• Carrot pack‑out and post‑harvest insights
• Live DJI T100 sprayer and spreader drone demo
Register now:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/vegetables-wa-myalup-roadshow-tickets-1986201230347
𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞...

𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐖𝐀 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬

Vegetables WA, as a member of the NFF Horticulture Council and the Compliance Taskforce, recently joined a consortium of horticulture industry representatives in Canberra to engage with Ministers, parliamentarians, and senior Department of Agriculture officials. Discussions focused on several critical issues, including the current fuel crisis, the development of a national food security strategy, compliance pressures, chemical regulation, DAFF export cost recovery, and workforce challenges. The Council also convened a dedicated workshop on Market‑Driven Compliance, bringing together auditors, certifying bodies, standard owners, growers, and Council members. The workshop examined the key challenges facing industry and worked to identify shared priorities and a coordinated path forward. All meetings were well received. We were able to strongly advocate for growers and emphasise the harsh and rapidly deteriorating conditions facing the horticulture sector. We reinforced the critical importance of food security and the need for government support to ensure the ongoing viability of vegetable production across Australia.

𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 – 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬!

If your horticultural operation in the Gascoyne region was affected by Cyclone Narelle or flooding, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝟓-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐏. Your response helps unlock vital disaster recovery funding for our entire region — 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬!

✅ Every grower’s input strengthens the case for support
✅ You can update your response anytime
✅ Optional: Share contact info with local orgs like GWC for direct assistance

👉 Complete the survey here: https://live.cga.org.au/tc_narelle_survey_lp

Do you have any questions? Please contact CGA on (08) 9941 8384 for more information.

𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 — 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.

BREAKING NEWS: The Federal Government will establish a fertiliser taskforce, commit to fertiliser underwriting and defer its plan to increase export costs on industry through full cost recovery.

These are practical decisions we’ve called for and will deliver more certainty for farmers at a time when margins are under real pressure.

We continue to seek additional measures to ensure farmers and fishers can access affordable and reliable fuel and fertiliser.

Read more: https://nff.org.au/media-release/nff-welcomes-fertiliser-decisions-and-export-cost-recovery-deferral-as-pressure-relief-for-producers/

🌀 PLEASE NOTE: the cyclone alerts for Tropical Cyclone Narelle have been updated. For the latest information visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au or the Emergency WA app 🌀

A snap AUSVEG survey of over 150 vegetable growers and counting over the past 48 hours shows many are reducing plantings and opting not to harvest existing crops as surges in the costs of critical farm inputs and shortages hit hard.

Responses so far show 27% of growers have reduced or stopped planting schedules due to severe operating uncertainty flowing from the Middle East conflict, and a further 13% are considering their options.

Other key findings include:
• Over 75% of growers are experiencing critical fuel shortages
• Growers report average increases to their weekly fuel costs of 74%.
• Growers report freight surcharges increases averaging 38%
• Over 50% of growers report fertiliser shortages.
• Concerns are being raised over price increases and availability of other key inputs like crop protection products, crop nutrients, irrigation pipes and fittings, and seed supplies.
• Growers on average have only been able to pass 12 percent of their recent cost rises on to customers.

Credible, current data like this, direct from growers is vital to our ongoing efforts to ensure all Australians understand the urgency of addressing the severe challenges that the vegetable growers feeding Australian families are facing.

Growers are encouraged to complete this short 5-minute survey on inputs and pricing: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y88DFCH