Season Success: Building Resilient Cropping Systems

Practical insights to set your 2026 season up for success, drawing on lessons from recent seasons and current agronomic trends.
Expert-led discussion on key disease risks, how they develop through the season and what proactive management really looks like (including emerging testing tools).
Clear, system-level thinking around soil health, biologicals and how biostimulants and inoculants fit into resilient cropping programs.
An industry outlook on what’s changing now and what to expect heading into 2026, so you can plan with confidence, not hindsight.
A collaborative, on the ground focus: applied science, practical decision-making and time for questions with experienced agronomists and industry specialists.

Workshop Agenda (4-6:30pm)

Welcome | 4-4:10pm:

Open to the event with a brief welcome and outline how the day will support practical decision making for resilient cropping systems heading into 2026.

#1 Onion porject research update | 4:10-4:30pm:

Dr Noel Knight and Ben Evert will provide an update on the Hort Innovation onion research project, focusing on fungicide resistance and new testing to support on farm management next season.

#2 Key disease concerns in horticulture | 4:30-4:50pm:

Shane Fitzgerald will deliver a refresher on key disease risks, exploring disease lifecycles, practical management approaches and relevant testing, including emerging tools.

#3 Learning from the 2025 Season - agronomy Q&A | (5-5:30pm):

Facilitated by Liam Riedy with local agronomists and growers, this session will reflect on key agronomic challenges and wins from the 2025 season through open discussion.

Short break

#4 Soil health, biologicals and system resilience | (5:30-6pm):

Dr Neil Wilson will explore soil health and the role of biologicals in cropping systems, clarifying the difference between types of biologicals and how agriculture and management decisions influence soil microbiology.

#5 Industry update and outlook for 2026 | 6-6:10pm):

Cherry Emerick and Olive Hood from Hort Innovation and VegNet will share an industry update and what to expect heading into 2026.

Final Q&A and BBQ Catering

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