Vegalogue

AUSVEG

A dialogue on research, advocacy and people in the Australian vegetable industry from AUSVEG, Australia's peak industry body for the vegetable, potato and onion sectors.

  1. 19 FEB

    R&D: The Open Weed Locator Project in Manjimup, WA

    In March 2025 a group of Western Australian vegetable growers, based in the south west of the state began work on developing a low cost, do it yourself, open source weed detection and management tool. Once the growers decided on what they wanted to develop, they began looking for support, and the grower-led OWL Project in Manjimup was born. This initiative is being driven by the Warren Cauliflower Group, supported by vegetables WA and seed funding through the VegNET innovation program. VegNET 3.0, project code VG21000, is the national extension program for the vegetable and onion industry, coordinated by AUSVEG, and funded by Hort Innovation, using vegetable and onion levy funds, as well as contributions from the Australian Government. The Chairman of the Warren Cauliflower Group Jake Ryan and the groups Executive Officer Jen Riseley spoke to the Vegalogue Podcast. If you want to find out more about the OWL, or Open Weed Locator, you can find it here. On the 26th February 2026 the Warren Cauliflower Group, supported by VegNET and alongside Vegetables WA will hold a live demonstration of the project on the Ryans Farm at Manjimup. You can find out more and register to attend here. Vegalogue is the podcast from AUSVEG, the peak body for Australia’s vegetable, potato, and onion industries, where we examine the pressing issues and latest developments in our sector. Thanks for listening! You can find out more about AUSVEG and the Australian vegetable industry at ausveg.com.au. Subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Tik Tok.

    14 min
  2. 23/10/2025

    R&D: NZ Study Tour - The lessons learned

    In late August a group of Australian vegetable growers spent a week in New Zealand as part of the vegetable and onion study tour program, funded by Hort Innovation. ‘These industry study tours provide opportunities for Australian vegetable and onion growers and supply chain businesses to increase their awareness and knowledge of the research and innovations in the global horticulture industry through the delivery of tours to strategic vegetable and onion growing regions, conferences, facilities, and innovation centres around the globe. Over five days the group visited farming operations across the country’s North Island, retail operations, the biosecurity operations at Wellington’s international airport and were delegates at the annual New Zealand horticulture conference. The tour group included Warrick Purden, the General Manager of Farm Operations with Hussey and Co in Victoria’s Gippsland, and Jimmy Fox and Calvin Parker, who are from near Manjimup in Western Australia, and both part of their family’s farming operations, primarily growing potatoes, but also other vegetable crops. Campbell Cooney spoke with them about what they learnt on the tour and why they wanted to be part of it.  VG23002 is funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable and onion research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government. Vegalogue is the podcast from AUSVEG, the peak body for Australia’s vegetable, potato, and onion industries, where we examine the pressing issues and latest developments in our sector. Thanks for listening! You can find out more about AUSVEG and the Australian vegetable industry at ausveg.com.au. Subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Tik Tok.

    13 min

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A dialogue on research, advocacy and people in the Australian vegetable industry from AUSVEG, Australia's peak industry body for the vegetable, potato and onion sectors.

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