07:42 minutes   Two years on, Peter Schreurs & Sons continue to control Lettuce Aphid using IPM approach they have been developing since 2000. In Europe, IPM is seen as the "way of the future" as it addresses growing public awareness of the health risks from applying strong chemicals to control insect pests on food crops. Peter, Darren and Paul Horne relate their personal experience with controlling difficult pests using a biological approach.

04:57 minutes    Victorian growers share their experiences with early crop irrigation practices. Before the development of farm dams and computerised permanent sprinkler systems, early growers hand watered winter crops or were busy moving heavy hoses and pipes by hand every 2-3 hours.. To conserve expensive town water, much of this work was done at night with growers shifting hoses and surviving with little sleep ... unless it rained. Permanent sprinkler systems were introduced from WA by Harry Goodrich and Les Allen in the 1960's with Russell Lamattina leading the way with computerised irrigation control systems in the 1980's. Interviews with Rob Allen, Angelo Taranto, Luis Gazzola, Geoff Corrigan and Peter Schreurs.

01:46 minutes   Victorian vegetable growers recall some of the changes in their industry following the move from Queen Victoria Market to Footscray Road in December 1969 The extra space available at the Footscray site enabled the use of forklift handling systems and the rapid movment of produce on pallets and bins we see today. Interviews with John Milburn, Peter Schreurs and Les Giroud.

02:43 minutes    Retired growers encourage Victorian vegetable growers to be involved in industry developments ... and reap the benefits. Growers need to know whats happening in the industry and make their feelings known. Get involved through the VGA and strengthen our growers voice on matters affecting our industry. Interviews with Jack Walker and Rob Allen.

05:52 minutes Grower field day demonstration using IPM to control Lettuce Aphid in February 2006. Demonstration of an Integrated Pest Management approach to controlling this devastating pest with the help of natural insect predators. Discussion of the publics' facination with modern vegetable growing practices and the focus of growers on developing sustainable production systems. Features Drs. Paul Horne and Sandra McDougall in discussion with IPM advocates Peter Schreurs & Sons.

07:11 minutes   Part 2 of the Lettuce IPM field day held in Victoria, February 2006. Using Integrated Pest Management to control Lettuce Aphid is a NEW development as this pest is usually managed with preventative insecticide treatments. Features some of the predatory insects that are activein the Lettuce crop. Drs. Paul Horne and Sandra McDougall demonstrate how an IPM approach works !

03:21 minutes    Darren Schreurs tells of his experience using IPM to successfully control Lettuce Aphid in commercial crops without compromising his control of other insect pests. Integrated Pest Management is a long term strategy that "looks after" pest predators and parasites so they can control insect pests. Darren uses the IPM approach to control two-spotted mites and thrips which had proved increasingly difficult to control with insecticides.

09:16 minutes Victorian vegetable growers recall some of their experiences selling at Queen Victoria Market, "The 3rd University of Melbourne " where you could learn more business skills than anywhere else :) Queen Vic market was built for horse & carts and there was quite a skill to parking larger trucks between the narrow stall posts. With no forklifts, all produce was stacked by hand and moved on wooden barrows. Interviews with Les Giroud, John Milburn, Angelo Taranto, Luis Gazzola, Peter Schreurs, Geoff Corrigan and Jack Walker.

06:25 minutes Victorian vegetable growers reflect on soil-care practices of the past including the use of crop rotations, animal manures, composts and cover crops. Advances in mechanised equipment after WWII made it possible to quickly work in crop trash and enabled multiple cropping of the same piece of land. Intensification of production raised crop yeilds dramatically but also led to difficulties with soil workability & drainage and more frequent problems with soil-borne pests and diseases such as nematodes, fusarium and club root. 20 years on, soil health has become widely recognised as a key indicator of sustainable farming systems and is the subject of a major soil health program funded through the National Vegetable R&D Levy. Interviews with Jack Walker, Luis Gazzola, John Milburn, Rob Allen, Angelo Taranto, Keith Allen, Peter Schreurs and Les Giroud.

02:10 minutes Victorian vegetable growers recount some of the hard work and long hours needed to establish their family businesses. The early days were very hard on small growers as had to cover both the production and sales aspects of their business every day of the year. Hard times are largely responsible for the strong character of growers and their abilty to quickly make well considered business decisions. Interviews with Rob Allen, Luis Gazzola, John Milburn and Peter Schreurs.