Current News

If you have been affected by the recent floods and storms you can report agricultural losses and damage via  the Ag Vic online Impact Assessment Form at agriculture.vic.gov.au/floods
Farmers can also contact 0427 694 185 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for agriculture recovery assistance or advice, including technical support.

Hort Connections was successful in obtaining funding from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to support grower attendance at the 2023 and 2024 events. In 2024, we are happy to offer the same structure of Grower Funding, to once again make Hort Connections more accessible to Australian growers. Visit the Hort Connections website for more information.

The National Biosecurity Training Hub provides a centralised platform for biosecurity training to support biosecurity preparedness, response and recovery.

The Hub is designed to make it easier for Australians to access a range of biosecurity training and for training providers to increase their reach.

Visit the National Biosecurity Training Hub website for more info

Fire Preparedness toolkit: now’s the time to prepare your farm for the fire season

Australia, and specifically Tatura in Victoria, will be hosting the 2nd International Symposium on Precision Management of Orchards and Vineyards, from 3rd to 8th December 2023.

Register for this event here

Horticulture employs thousands of workers in Victoria every year. Workers picking fruit and vegetables are among Victoria’s most vulnerable, so it’s critical that companies that provide or host labour hire workers meet their legal obligations.

Under the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 (Vic):

• businesses must be licensed to supply labour hire workers, including for horticulture activities such as picking, packing, sorting and pruning
• ‘host’ businesses such as grape growers – who engage workers through a labour hire provider – must only use licensed providers.

Significant penalties can apply for breaches of these obligations – exceeding $600,000 for companies and $150,000 for individuals.

Register of licensed providers
The Labour Hire Authority’s (LHA) Register of Licensed Labour Hire Providers provides hosts with a quick way to check whether a business they are considering engaging is licensed to provide labour hire services.

By checking the Register, hosts can ensure they do not risk penalties from using an unlicensed provider, and that their provider has met the checks required to obtain and maintain a licence. LHA encourages labour hire hosts to check the Register, and to contact a provider’s nominated officer to confirm they are engaging a licensed provider. Hosts can also use LHA’s Follow My Providers tool to be notified of any changes in providers’ licence status.