Events

2009
National Industry Conference of the Australian Hydroponic and Greenhouse Association Schedule of Events

Download the venue site map

Day 1 – Sunday 19th July 2009

1.00 – 5.00 pm Trade exhibition open to public & delegates
1.00 – 6.00 pm Registration
1.30 – 1.45 pm Official opening trade exhibition - Exhibition Area, Badgery Pavilion
5.15 – 7.00 pm AHGA AGM, discussion on future directions of the industry - Southee North
7.00 – 8.00 pm Welcome cocktails - Exhibition Area, Badgery Pavilion

Day 2 – Monday 20th July 2009

5.00 – 8.30 am Bus visit to Flemington Market and market breakfast
8.00 – 9.00 am Registration & trade exhibition open
9.00 – 10.00 am Welcome, official opening, presentation of awards & scholarships - Southee North
10.00 – 10.40 am Keynote address Future vision
expected impacts of climate change on intensive horticulture Gerard McEvilly, E3international Southee North
10.40 – 11.30 am Morning tea – Exhibition Area
11.30 am – 12.10 pm Concurrent Session 1
    Choose one of the following sessions:
  • ‘Improving yields and quality by managing plant vegetative/generative balance’
    Ben van Onna, PTC+, The Netherlands (also on Tuesday) - Sponsored by Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE
    Southee North
  • ‘Biochar as an hydroponic growing medium’
    Mike Nichols, Massey University, New Zealand - Sponsored by Casetech
    Southee South
  • ‘Greenhouse technology and management - getting started’.
    Geoff Connellan, University of Melbourne, Burnley (also on Tuesday)
    Southee 3
  • ‘Bacterial canker management’
    Leanne Forsyth, NSW Department of Primary Industries (also on Tuesday)
    Southee 5
12.15 - 1.05pm Concurrent Session 2
    Choose one of the following sessions:
  • ‘Alternative greenhouse crops’
    Mike Nichols, Massey University, New Zealand  - Sponsored by Casetech 
    Southee 3
  • ‘The challenge for protected cropping in semiurban areas- new opportunities’
    Stephen Goodwin, Biocontrol Solutions (also on Tuesday)
    Southee North
  • ‘Spots, wilts and rots – disease threats from overseas’
    Len Tesoriero, NSW Department of Primary Industries (also on Tuesday)
    Southee South
  • ‘Innovations in greenhouse construction’
    Henk van Tuyl, Kubo Greenhouse Projects, The Netherlands (also on Tuesday)
    Southee 5
1.05 - 2.30pm Lunch – Exhibition Area
2.30 - 3.10pm Concurrent Session 3
    Choose one of the following sessions:
  • ‘Good hygiene cuts costs’
    Jeremy Badgery-Parker, NSW Department of Primary Industries (also on Tuesday)
    Southee 3
  • ‘Up close and personal with common pests and how to manage them’
    Leigh Pilkington, NSW Department of Primary Industries (also on Tuesday)  – Sponsored by Biological Services     
    Southee North
  • ‘Developments in greenhouse cooling’
    Geoff Connellan, University of Melbourne, Burnley & Graeme Smith, Graeme Smith Consulting (also on Tuesday)
    Southee South
  • ‘Future availability and price of hydroponic fertilisers’
    Trevor Dennis, Haifa Australia
    Southee 5
3.15 – 3.55pm Concurrent Session 4
    Choose one of the following sessions:
  • ‘World economic trends - what should growers know?’
    Frank Drum, National Australia Bank
    Southee South
  • ‘The importance of measuring and managing actual plant temperature’
    Ben van Onna, PTC+, The Netherlands (also on Tuesday)  – Sponsored by Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE 
    Southee North
  • ‘Waste not, want now – delivering biocontrol agents on target’
    Marilyn Steiner, Biocontrol Solutions (also on Tuesday)  - Sponsored by Biological Services 
    Southee 3
  • ‘Improving nutrient management through (a) using on-farm meters & (b) interpreting nutrient analysis’ (also on Tuesday)
    Sophie Parks, NSW Dept of Primary Industries & Rick Donnan,  Growool Horticultural Systems 
    Southee 5
3.55 – 4.30pm Afternoon tea – Exhibition Area
4.30 – 5.10pm Concurrent Session 5
    Choose one of the following sessions:
  • ‘Biological control – past and present’.
    Donald Lester, JH Biotech, United States of America – Sponsored by Zadco 
    Southee North
  • ‘5 ways to grow your business’.
    Marcus Kroek, Action Coach
    Southee 5
  • ‘Managing leaf diseases in your crop’
    Kaye Ferguson, South Australian Research & Development Institute (also on Tuesday)
    Southee 3
  • ‘All that jazz - fundamentals of managing hydroponic systems’
    Rick Donnan, Growool Horticultural Systems (also on Tuesday)
    Southee South
5.10 pm Monday program finishes. Evening free.

Day 3 – Tuesday 21st July 2009

8.00 – 9.00 am Registration & trade exhibition open
9.00 – 9.40 am Choice of one of two concurrent workshops
  • Practical business opportunities and support, including:
    Succession planning – Chris Fry, NAB. Export opportunities – Rod Commerford, Austrade.
    Southee South
  • Getting the best out of your technology, including
    Practical energy saving – Marcus Brandsema, Tasmanian tomato grower
    Southee North
  • Herb and spice workshop on industry matters - Sponsored by Barden
    Southee 5
9.40 – 10.20 am Morning tea – Exhibition Area
10.20 – 11.00 am Choice of one of four concurrent workshops
  • Flowers – what’s new ? including:
    Post harvest accountability underpins vase life guarantees Brian Freeman, Chrysal International. What’s new in IPM options? Gary Leeson, Organic Crop Protectants
    Southee North
  • Lettuce and Asian greens – Sponsored by Lefroy Valley, including:
    Effect of EC on nitrates in Asian veg, Sophie Parks, DPI. Grower perspective on Asian veg in NFT, Damian Lin
    Southee 3
  • Vine vegetables – Sponsored by Lefroy Valley, including:
    The consultation process for the fresh tomato industry, Jonathan Eccles, consultant.
    Southee South
  • Herb and spice workshop on industry matters (continued) – Sponsored by Barden
    Southee 5
11.05 – 12.05 pm Major workshop – Pesticide and food safety issues – Sponsored by Australian Pesticides &  
Veterinary Medicines Authority
Southee North
12.05 – 1.30pm Lunch – Exhibition Area
1.30 - 2.10pm Concurrent Session 6
    Choose one of the following sessions:
  • All that jazz - fundamentals of managing hydroponic systems
    Rick Donnan, Growool Horticultural Systems
    Southee South
  • Crunch time - how greenhouse technology and climate affects cucumbers
    Sophie Parks & Jenny Ekman, NSW Department of Primary Industries
    Southee 5
  • Bacterial canker management
    Leanne Forsyth, NSW Department of Primary Industries
    Southee 3
  • Taking the plunge – two growers’ experience of making a major hydroponic investment
    Robert Hayes, Freshzest & Ann Wilson, Bellarine Hydroponics
    Southee 4
2.15 – 2.55pm Concurrent Session 7
    Choose one of the following sessions:
  • The challenge for protected cropping in semiurban areas – new opportunities
    Stephen Goodwin, Biocontrol Solutions. Sponsored by Freshzest Pty Ltd
    Southee 4
  • Good hygiene cuts costs
    Jeremy Badgery-Parker, NSW Department of Primary Industries. Sponsored by Freshzest Pty Ltd
    Southee 3
  • Improving nutrient management through (a) using on-farm meters & (b) interpreting nutrient analysis
    Sophie Parks, NSW DPI & Rick Donnan, Growool Horticultural Systems. Sponsored by Freshzest Pty Ltd
    Southee 5
  • Greenhouse technology and management – getting started
    Geoff Connellan, University of Melbourne, Burnley. Sponsored by Freshzest Pty Ltd
    Southee South
2.55 – 3.40pm Afternoon tea (Trade exhibition concludes) 
3.40 – 4.20pm Concurrent Session 8
    Choose one of the following sessions:
  • Innovations in greenhouse construction
    Henk van Tuyl, Kubo Greenhouse Projects, The Netherlands
    Southee 5
  • Managing leaf diseases in your crop
    Kaye Ferguson, South Australian Research & Development Institute
    Southee 3
  • The importance of managing actual plant temperature
    Ben van Onna, PTC+, The Netherlands
    Southee South
  • Up close and personal with common pests and how to manage them
    Leigh Pilkington, NSW Department of Primary Industries  - Sponsored by Biological Services 
    Southee 4
4.20 – 5.00 pm Concurrent Session 9
    Choose one of the following sessions:
  • Spots, wilts and rots – disease threats from overseas
    Len Tesoriero, NSW Department of Primary Industries
    Southee 3
  • Developments in greenhouse cooling’
    Geoff Connellan, University of Melbourne, Burnley & Graeme Smith, Graeme Smith Consulting
    Southee 5
  • Improving yields and quality by managing plant vegetative/generative balance 
    Ben van Onna, PTC+, The Netherlands – Sponsored by Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE 
    Southee South
  • Waste not, want now – delivering biocontrol agents on target 
    Marilyn Steiner, Biocontrol Solutions - Sponsored by Biological Services 
    Southee 4
5.10 pm Tuesday program finishes
7.00 – 7.30pm Pre-dinner drinks
7.30 pm Conference banquet dinner - Southee North

Day 4 – Wednesday 22nd July 2009
Farm visits (optional extra)

8.15 am Buses depart Novotel Hotel, Homebush
9.45 – 11.15 am Morning tea and inspect Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute
Highlights:
  • Research comparing biological control agents on diseases in a leafy hydroponic crop
  • EC management of Asian vegetables and demonstration of on-farm nutrient meter
  • Tour of Plant Health Diagnostic Laboratory and talk
12.00 – 1.00 pm Visit cut flower farm 
Highlights:
  • View greenhouse production areas and automated packing shed
1.15 – 2.45pm Lunch and visit tomato farm.
Highlights:
  • View greenhouse tomato production technology
  • Technical talk on managing bacterial canker
  • Industry lunch – Lebanese feast
4.00 pm Buses arrive at Homebush or Sydney Airport

Please note will have a bus dropping delegates at Sydney Airport around 4.30pm.