Welcome to the 6th edition of Tassie eNews

Welcome to the 2017 winter edition of NGIT's Tassie e-news.

We encourage all our members to share with us any news, story ideas, innovations and information concerning the nursery and garden industry.

We welcome input from all members, and we are here to assist you in promoting information through our professional network.

What's on this issue

• Pests and Diseases Workshop Registration
• NGIA Conference 2018 
• NGIA Webinars - YouTube Catch-Up
• Nuffield Scholarship Closing Soon
•  Nursery Papers 2017
• Centre for Tasmanian Industry Update
• Blooming Tasmania - Call for Exhibitors
• Positions Vacant 
• Advertising Feature 
• Advertise with us!
• Like us on Facebook
• Keep Warm this Winter!

Pests and Diseases Management Workshop 

IMPROVING THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS

Workshop Date - Wednesday 21st of June

Time: 10 am - 4 pm

Location: TasTAFE, Clarence Campus

4a Bounty Street, Warrane

Pests and Diseases Management Workshop to be conducted by Andrew Manners PhD, Senior Entomologist, and John Duff, Entomologist from the Horticulture and Forestry Science, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland Government.

Following up on last years successful Pests & Diseases Workshop, this workshop will cover how to capture images of pest/disease problems, how to diagnose plant health problems, symptoms and possible causes, management options and resources, plant health problem solving, and a farm walk.

Refreshments, a light lunch and afternoon tea will be provided.

NGIT Members: $25 per person

TAFE Students: $25 per person

Non-Members: $45 per person

Numbers are strictly limited - use the form below to register now.

For further information please visit www.ngitas.com.au

NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2018

Every two years a national Nursery & Garden Industry
Conference is held in Australian city, 

and in 2018 it's HOBART!

Over the past 30 years the NGIA's National Conference
has attracted an average of 250 delegates
- growers, retailers, suppliers and stakeholders. 

Hosting a conference locally offers Tasmanian members 

a great opportunity to learn new skills, hear world class
keynote speakers and network with their
national counterparts. 

 'Save the Date' 

February 2018

Monday 18th - Wednesday 21st

More information will be shared as the event is finalised, 

so stay tuned and watch this space.

Catch up on Webinars

Two webinars were run in April and May as part of the nursery levy funded project; Building the resilience and on-farm biosecurity capacity of the Australian production nursery industry (NY15002) as a collaborative project between DAF, Hort Innovation and NGIA.

These Webinars are now available to watch on the NGIA YouTube Channel.
Follow the link below to view the full webinars presented by Andrew Manners.

Webinar #1 - Mite Identification and Management Webinar

Mites are small and minute and can be either pests or predators. Some groups of mites are relatively easy to identify at a general level. However some groups are more obscure and so tiny that a devoted microscope is required to observe them with confidence.
This webinar covers the major pest mite groups likely to be encountered in a production nursery. 

Watch Catch-up on YouTube: Webinar: Mite Identification and Management

Webinar #2 - Virus Identification and Management for Production Nurseries

Plant Viruses cause serious economic loss, resulting in deformed or unusual growth that may cause plants to become unsaleable. Unfortunately, virus symptoms can be very similar to that caused by a variety of other factors. This webinar discusses how to identify virus-like symptoms and the steps to confirm if a virus is present.

Watch Catch-Up webinar on YouTube: Virus Identification and Management

Applications are closing soon for the

2018 Nuffield Scholarships

For Australian Primary Producers

Annually, Nuffield awards primary producers scholarships
to support overseas travel and study.

So if you are in primary production as your main occupation, please
explore this opportunity and apply to become a Nuffield Scholar.

Closing date 16th June 2017

Follow this link for further information or to apply for a Nuffield Scholarship

Publications: Nursery Papers

The recenty published May & June Nursery Papers haved focused on the recent work
the National Nursery Industry Biosecurity program is doing for production nurseries plus the importance of education and training in our industry.

Nursery Paper May 2017 - National Nursery Industry Biosecurity Program

The National Industry Biosecurity program is a comprehensive levy funded project
which aims to ensure that production nurseries in Australia have access to an on-farm biosecurity program (BioSecure HACCP). It also ensures that production nurseries are aware of and prepared for incursions of exotic plant pests and have effective market access mechanisms in place to maintain business functionality.    

Nursery Paper June 2017 - Education and Training; Vital for a Thriving Industry

Horticulture is a rapidly expanding industry in Australia, with an increase in the value
of both the production and lifestyle sectors. This means there has never been a more important time for horticulture, and the nursery industry, to continually improve skills
and knowledge of owners, managers and staff to ensure businesses remain strong
and profitable. The industry is investing significant amountsto overcome some of
the barriers it faces, and this Nursery Paper addresses both the challenges and opportunities that are available.

For further information and previous Nursery Papers please visit:

www.ngia.com.au

Our collegues at the Centre for Tasmanian Industry have shared some examples and information relating to dealing with your employees award or enterprise agreement entitlements and requests for annual and personal/carer's leave.

Download a copy of some examples that you may be faced with if either situations arise.

Take advantage of your NGIT membership and contact the Centre for Tasmanian Industry today to assist you with your specific needs on
03 6244 8881 or email info@centretasindustry.com

Blooming Tasmania Flower & Garden Festival

Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th September, 2017

Albert Hall, Launceston

Blooming Tasmania Association Inc. is a state-wide not-for-profit organisation working closley with Tourism Tasmania and other key partners to promote garden tourism. It is estimated that annually there are 120 million garden tourists worldwide and that if garden events, like Garden Festivals and Shows were included along with commercially operated garden tours, the number could rise to 300 million.
Garden tourism is therefore clearly the world's number one industry.

Blooming Tasmania's annual state event, the Flower & Garden Festival, will be held
on the 23rd & 24th of Septemebr at the Albert Hall in Launceston. 

Blooming Tasmania are presently seeking Expressions of Interest from prospective event exhibitors amongst the nursery and garden industry. 

For further information please contact the Event Manager 

Jeff Wessling at: jeff@exotechsales.com.au

or visit the Blooming Tasmania website

Positions Vacant

Don't forget you are most welcome to advertise any 'Positions Vacant' with us - Tassie eNews is sent out to members and Tafe students all around Tasmania. We will even load the vacancy up onto our website and share it on our Facebook page. It's a great way to help someone find a position within the industry. Just contact admin@ngitas.com.au with the details.

Advertising Feature

WINTER GARDENING CARE

Waratah Wholesale has the tools for every job!

Winter is a great time for pruning and weeding. Investing in quality tools saves valuable time and money. Waratah Wholesale stocks a large selection of garden tools: axes and choppers, pruners, loppers, shears, secateurs, saws, blades, shovels and spades. 

Contact your local Tasmanian distributor, Waratah Wholesale

1 Tara St, South Hobart. 

P: 03 6223 7200 E: sales@waratahtas.com.au

Facebook.com/waratahtas

Advertise with NGIT Tassie eNews

Tassie eNews is one of NGIT's key methods of communication that is delivered statewide to all our member's in-boxes regularly.

If you have an event, training course or product you would like to promote, we invite you to take advantage of to advertise with us for FREE.

We extend this offer of FREE advertsing space to all our NGIT members for up to 4 advertising spaces per year*.

For further information please contact Kay Carney @ admin@ngitas.com.au

*Terms and conditions do apply. All advertisements must be content appropriate to the nursery and garden industry and will undergo approval by NGIT Administration.

Non-Members are welcome to apply for advertising space for a nominal fee.

NGIT Facebook Page

Keep up to date with what is happening in your industry.

Facebook is a great way for us to keep in touch with our members, 
it's casual and informal but can also be very informative.

We invite all NGIT members and even non-members to 'Like' our Facebook page.

So please Like Us on Facebook

Once again - thank you to all our members for taking the time to read through our Winter 2017 Edition of NGIT's Tassie eNews - we look forward to your feedback, story ideas and the sharing of information.

Keep Warm this Winter!