BUSINESS VegNET

The past few months have been a particularly active period for the VegNET WA team, marked by both team changes and a strong focus on grower engagement.

Words Lisa Hasson, Regional Support Officer, vegetablesWA

IN December, Katrina Hill concluded her time with VegNET WA. Throughout her involvement in the program, Katrina worked closely with growers, providing practical support and contributing valuable experience and insight across a range of VegNET activities. Her commitment to the vegetable industry has been greatly valued, and we thank her for her contribution while wishing her every success in her future endeavours.

We are also pleased to welcome Angela Tarbottom to the team. Angela joins VegNET WA from Foodbank, bringing with her a strong background in stakeholder engagement and industry collaboration. We look forward to the skills and perspective she will add to the program as she settles into her new role.

Alongside these team developments, the VegNET WA team has continued to work closely with growers to better understand on-farm challenges and support practical, grower-driven solutions. This has been complemented by a range of extension activities delivered across Western Australia. These have included the delivery of bilingual Chemical Training in Perth in November 2025, followed by Chemical Training in February 2026, participation in extension events at the Gatton AgTech Showcase featuring a drone demonstration, and the successful completion of the OWL Project in Manjimup.

Together, these initiatives have strengthened engagement and support for growers across the WA vegetable industry.

Central Regional TAFE Chemical Training

Additional chemical training was delivered at the vegetablesWA office in early February 2026, organised and coordinated by Joel Dinsdale. The session provided growers with further opportunities to build their knowledge and skills in the safe and effective use of agricultural chemicals. The training was attended by 10 participants and facilitated by Laura from Central Regional TAFE, who delivered the theoretical component of the course onsite.

The session focused on key principles of chemical handling, storage, mixing, application, and regulatory responsibilities, reinforcing industry best practice and workplace safety requirements. Participants engaged in discussion throughout the training, asking questions and sharing experiences from their own operations, which helped ground the learning in real-world scenarios.

Following the theory session, participants travelled to Glavocich Produce to complete the practical component of the training. This hands-on session allowed growers to apply what they had learned in a practical farm environment, covering equipment use, calibration, and safe application techniques. The practical component was particularly valuable in reinforcing correct procedures and building confidence in applying chemical safety principles on farm.

It was encouraging to see a strong level of participation from younger horticulture growers, demonstrating a clear commitment to upskilling and maintaining high safety standards within the industry. This training supports growers to operate safely, meet compliance requirements, and protect their teams, produce, and the environment.

Drone Demonstration, Q&A and BBQ extension event

The chemical training team was onsite at Glavocich’s Produce as the Gatton AgTech Showcase extension event was delivered afterwards, which featured a drone demonstration, interactive Q&A session, and BBQ, providing growers with a valuable opportunity to see emerging technology in action. The event brought together WA vegetable growers, industry representatives, and extension staff to explore how drone technology can be practically applied within horticultural operations.

Australia Agritech led the demonstration, showcasing the T100 agricultural drone, currently the largest operating drone in Western Australia. The demonstration highlighted the drone’s capabilities for the horticulture sector, including precision spraying, efficient coverage of large areas, and reduced operator exposure to agricultural chemicals. Growers were able to see firsthand how drone technology can support safer, more targeted chemical application while improving efficiency in challenging or hard-to-access areas.

The Q&A session generated strong discussion, with growers asking practical questions around regulation, chemical use compliance, cost considerations, and how drones could be integrated into existing farm systems. The presence of the chemical training team added further value, allowing safety, best-practice application, and compliance requirements to be discussed alongside the technology.

Events such as this continue to demonstrate strong interest from WA growers in innovative, practical solutions that address labour constraints, rising input costs, and on-farm safety, while supporting sustainable horticultural production.

AI Sprayer — Open source Weed Locator Farm Demonstration Day

The AI Sprayer — OWL (Open source Weed Locator) project is a Hort Innovation-funded initiative supporting the adoption of innovative, practical technology within the Western Australian horticulture sector. The project has progressed through close collaboration with growers, including early involvement from the Warren Cauliflower Improvement Group, helping ensure the technology and extension activities remain relevant to on-farm needs.

A key highlight of the project was the OWL Demonstration Day held in Manjimup, which provided growers with the opportunity to see the technology operating in a real production environment. The event was hosted by Jake Riseley and featured Guy Coleman, who travelled from Denmark to present on the development of the OWL system and its application in horticultural cropping systems. The in-field demonstration showcased the potential of AI-driven precision spraying to improve targeting, reduce chemical use, and support safer and more efficient operations.

The demonstration generated strong discussion, with growers engaging in practical conversations around integration, performance, and future applications of the technology. Project development and extension activities were supported throughout by Katrina Hill, whose efforts helped guide the project from early concept through to delivery.

Further extension activities are underway, including a Vegalogue podcast episode, available on Spotify, scheduled for release in March and a webinar available via the vegetablesWA YouTube channel for growers seeking more detailed information.

Looking ahead, 2026 is set to be another active year for VegNET WA, with an emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and delivering extension activities that respond directly to grower needs.

With two recent roadshows in Carnarvon and Geraldton now over, we have additional regional roadshows in planning for Myalup and Gingin, alongside further training sessions designed to support skills development, showcase emerging technologies, and strengthen connections between growers and industry specialists.

VegNET WA will also continue to work closely with national VegNET teams and industry partners across other states to expand opportunities for Western Australian growers to be involved in cross-regional research and extension projects. These partnerships enable the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and outcomes, while ensuring projects remain relevant to local conditions and production systems.

By strengthening these connections and maintaining a strong on-ground presence, VegNET WA remains committed to delivering practical, grower-led outcomes that support productivity, innovation, and long-term sustainability across the Western Australian vegetable industry.