NGI Updates | Your Levy at Work

Roadmap towards a stronger and more sustainable workforce

Monday, 18 March 2019

Nursery is one of the largest industry sectors within Australian horticulture and is the starting point for all horticultural plant production across the country.

Production nurseries employ more than 20,000 people across Australia and in 2015-16 was valued at $2.29 billion. We are on the brink of a green era – and with approximately 1,700 production businesses nationwide, it is vital we support and promote initiatives that focus on human capital for the nursery industry workforce.

In partnership with Nursery & Garden Industry Australia (NGIA), the Review of Nursery Industry Career Pathways (NY17002) project is delivered by RM Consulting Group (RMCG), and works towards attracting, developing and retaining the right kind of people into our thriving and dynamic industry. More

Leading towards greener futures

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

Applications for the 2019 Green Industry Growing Leaders Program (MT16002) are closing Friday 8 March 2019 5pm AEST.

The Green Leaders program has been funded by Hort Innovation using nursery and turf industry levies and funds from the Australian Government. The program awards scholarships to applicants who are nursery or turf levy payers, as well as employees of these businesses.

Delivered by management consultancy firm, The Right Mind, this initiative provides an opportunity to support the growth and empowerment of our workforce, through upskilling and professional development of leadership skills.

March Pest of the Month: Gummy stem blight

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

Name: Gummy stem blight, Stagonosporopsis spp.

Symptoms on seedlings occur as light to dark brown spots on the cotyledons. Infection of the cotyledons or hypocotyl causes a water-soaked, brown discolouration of the tissues, followed by tissue desiccation and collapse. Seedlings die rapidly after infection of either the hypocotyl or cotyledons.

On older plants, leaf symptoms appear as small circular, tan spots up to 5 mm in diameter, sometimes surrounded by a yellow halo. Under favourable conditions, the leaf lesions may enlarge rapidly and become irregular in shape. When the lesions coalesce, the entire leaf may become blighted. The spots dry, become cracked and may tear, giving leaves a tattered appearance. Infection often begins at the leaf margins.

Influence the future direction of our nursery industry communications program

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

To mark the next phase of the Nursery Industry Communications Program (NY18001), we are asking levy payers to complete our short survey to ensure we are getting you the information that you want – the way you want it!

Delivered by our team of agribusiness communication specialists, our job is to ensure you receive the latest levy funded R&D and marketing to help grow your business and advance your career in this thriving industry.

Through our communications program, we utilise several channels to maximise our reach – providing updates on the NGIA and Your Levy @ Work websites, in the Hort Journal, across social media, and in our monthly e-newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

Collaborating and Innovating in Australian horticulture

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

Tuesday, 26 February 2019

Several initiatives are rolling out across the horticultural sector in the first half of 2019; bringing together a range of industries with the goal to promote better business, education, and industry growth.

Strategy Consultation Workshops: ‘Your levy, your say, in your region.’

In the lead up to the release of their new Strategic Plan in mid-2019, Hort Innovation has been delivering cross-country workshops to gain insights on improving the cohesion between the sector and their business’s direction.

Intended for growers and key industry stakeholders, each workshop gives attendees the chance to share their thoughts on the successes and potential improvements Hort Innovation could make in order to better invest horticultural levies.

The series of workshops kicked off in Orange, NSW on January 29, 2019. Since then they have completed nine workshops across New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia.

The 2019 Masterclass in Horticultural Business is underway

by Levy Communications • NGI Updates

Tuesday, 19 February 2019

Four of Australia’s leading nursery industry professionals have been awarded a Hort Masterclass Scholarship for 2019.

Luke Vanderstaay from Westland Nurseries (TAS), Richard Ramsden from Tasmanian Plant Growers (TAS), Kristian Spink from Marlborough Nursery (QLD) and David Russell from Wallum Nurseries (QLD) will each receive a $10,000 scholarship to go towards their Hort Masterclass tuition fees.

Described as a mini-MBA, the course equips the future leaders of Australia’s horticultural sector, with the skills and knowledge to advance and accelerate their careers.

The scholarships are funded as part of the Hort Frontiers Leadership Fund using nursery industry levies and contributions from the Australian Government.