Autumn 2010

I hope you and your families all had a safe and restful Easter.
Thank God the summer weather was not as hot as last year.

Now with good autumn rains the crops should maintain their quality into winter.

Contents

Vegetable Training Uncertain
For almost 30 years, the Sneydes Road site has played a major part in educating young vegetable growers through accredited training programs...

Industrial Relations Changes
The Award has been one of the most talked about issues in Australia’s Horticulture Industry for the past 12 months...

Fair Work Australia
The Fair Work Ombudsman has announced details of the much awaited national education and awareness campaign for the horticulture sector...

New Pay Rates From July
From July 1, 2010, transitional rates of pay and penalties contained in the Horticulture Award 2010 will take effect...

Gross Margin Calculator
A simple computer program has been developed to assist vegetable growers with making decisions about what to grow based on an analysis of potential income and likely operating costs...

Rural Finance Support
Collaborative work between the Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria and the Vegetable Growers’ Association of Victoria (VGA Vic) is helping to keep growers in business...

No. 40 download 783kb

Reports

Veg price uncertainty
Since January 2009, the markets around Australia have been over supplied and prices have been poor. However, in the past month, prices have increased for most vegetables and we can only hope this continues through to winter and into spring...

Epping Market Construction Begins
Construction of the new $300 million Melbourne Wholesale Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Market at Epping, north of the city, is moving into the next phase, with the signing of major works contracts following the completion of early works this week...
  
IDO update
Our Industry Development Officers (IDOs) Ken Orr and Slobadan Vujovic are well underway in their new roles and have been out visiting growers and doing a great job in communication...

2010 Convention
We hope to see some of you at the AUSVEG 2010 National Convention in May, from 27 to 30, at Jupiters Hotel Casino on the Gold Coast...

VFF subscription to rise
Membership of the Victorian Farmers’ Federation (VFF) Horticultural Group for 2010-2011 will be subject to an increase in subscriptions from $275 to $500 plus GST...

Victorian IAC delegate
The National Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) for 2010 is represented by Roger Turner from Coolibah Herbs in south east Victoria...

New award workshops
The Federal Government’s new Horticultural Industry Workplace Award 2010 became effective from January 1, 2010 with wage rates scheduled to be introduced from July 1, 2010...

Market hail damage
Vegetable Growers who have a trading stand at the Melbourne Markets have been subjected not only to slower sales demands for vegetables but also the hail storm damage which caused holes in the skylights of the roof over the main trading area...

Database update
Communication is vital for our industry and all vegetable growers are invited to update their contact details especially mobile, email and fax numbers...