Agriculture
Celebrating 60 years of Agricultural Research Facility in North-West Tasmania
Media release – Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA), 11 December, 2023
Celebrating 60 years of agricultural research facility in north-west Tasmania
Approximately 100 people are expected to attend an agricultural field day in north-west Tasmania today.
The Forthside Vegetable Research Facility Field Day is an annual event hosted by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) to showcase innovative and sustainable approaches that are relevant and accessible to industry.
This year’s event coincides with the 60th anniversary of the research facility.
Representatives from the horticulture industry and interested community members have been invited to join the celebration, find out about current research to support Tasmania’s horticulture sector, meet with researchers, and tour the farm.
TIA researchers, PhD candidates and industry leaders will present about innovative horticultural practices and pest and disease management. Research topics include potato virus, weed management, strawberry heat stress, traditional Chinese medicine, and bioclay sustainable crop protection.
During a panel discussion we will hear from experts in their field about how Tasmania can grow cool climate horticulture both profitably and sustainably. Panellists include Doug Clark, TIA Forthside Vegetable Research Facility Farm Manager, Dr Anthony Kachenko, Hort Innovation General Manager Production & Sustainability R&D, Cameron Folder, Costa Regional Manager, and Caitlin Radford, 2022 Young Farmer of the Year.
Presenters:
- Professor Calum Wilson, TIA: Potato virus research (the TIA potato pathology team recently won the recent Minister’s Tasmanian STEM Innovation Award)
- Dr Tory Clarke, TIA: Principles of bioclay in disease management
- Laurie Krauss, TIA PhD candidate: Managing weeds in rotation cropping systems
- Dr Nathan Tivendale, TIA: Overcoming heat stress in strawberries
- Celia van Sprang, TIA PhD candidate: Agronomic principles for growing traditional Chinese medicine herbs in Tasmania
- Matthew Young, Elphin Grove Farm: Popping corn onto the menu