YOUR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
These activities and projects include: • Increased engagement from the CEO and the vegetablesWA team with grower members and stakeholders, not only as part of updating our strategic plan but also to better understand the needs and priorities of industry and to look for opportunities for collaboration. • Representing you interests in our discussions with government and regulators. For instance, we are keen to hear your views on the challenges around labour and water and the proposed changes to regulations around single use plastic packaging. • The new ‘Building Horticultural Business Capacity Program’ connecting business owners to farm management experts to assess how your business performs today and the key areas of focus to improve profitability and resilience. • Introduce emerging technologies to help growers seek out new export growth opportunities. We’ve partnered with Maven Marketplaces (a Sydney-based technology company) to develop an app, vegetablesDirect, which seeks to make it easier for growers and international buyers to find each other and make export as easy as a domestic transaction. These are just a few examples of the kind of initiatives and projects we have in mind to help grow your business efficiently and effectively, so you’re spending more time on the farming and less on everything else. I’m looking forward to meeting as many of you as I can over the coming months, and hearing your thoughts on these initiatives and any other ideas as to how we can support you and your business. MORE INFORMATION Manus Stockdale, phone 0448 897 652 or manus.stockdale@vegetableswa.com.au
vegetablesWA
President’s Report
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BY DAN KUZMICICH PRESIDENT, VEGETABLESWA
big hello to all my fellow industry members and growers. It’s still quite cool, wandering about my property in Carnarvon today, with no sign of typical spring temperatures as yet. I hear it has been a wild and fierce winter in the south — with a lot of rain and cool conditions. James Wringe is a good mate and fellow tomato grower in Kirup; as such we speak on a regular basis. He has been keeping me up-to-date about the cold snap with rain and hail in the area over the past few months. Of course, our discussions always go back to labour, and the lack thereof as the main talking point in our discussions. Unfortunately, James has decided to stop growing for the moment, as last season he struggled to get his crop harvested — much of which was left on the vine to rot. James has decided it’s not viable for him to keep going under the current labour conditions. Whilst travelling through Carnarvon the other week, I also caught up with Jim Trandos from Trandos Farms for dinner on his way to visit his property in Broome. He also commented that it is coming to crunch time to source workers for this up-coming harvest, highlighting the need to work together to get us all through in this current climate. Spearwood grower Paul Glavocich has also informed me about the impact of the weather. The cold has caused a slow
growing environment for his produce and he is finding it difficult to fill orders.
Whilst we can’t change the weather, growers have been finding a way to manage through the current shortage of labour. With the effects of the pandemic still raging across the world, it is anticipated that the long-term situation will not be over any time soon. If you are still facing problems with this issue, please contact our office at vegetablesWA on (08) 9486 7515 or call me personally on 0408 910 761 and we will do our best to assist you. Up here, the harvest season is kicking into full gear in the Gascoyne district and prices seem to be fair and sound across the board. The rain we have had in the first half of the year is always welcomed, but with it weed control has become an issue and an increase in the prevalence of insect pests. Aphids have caused some major damage to capsicum plants by transmitting the Cucumber Mosaic virus which, if not managed well, can be devastating and wipe you out for the season. Growers also reported they have been hit with Black Spot on their tomato plants due to the wet weather, and some have been caught out — not being able to spray on time. The Long Table Dinner was held in Carnarvon on the 6th of August and as usual there was a big turnout. The weather made sure it was a pleasant night. Agriculture Minister Hon Alannah McTiernan MLC was invited as the special guest. As such, I had the opportunity to speak to her one-onone about the industry in general and various matters that challenged the region. Water was particularly high on the agenda. WA Grower SPRING 2021
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