26 May 2026

So you have a pest problem – now what? 

Growers deal with pest issues every single day, and with so much advice floating around it can be hard to know whose to follow.

GrowConnex Extension Officers are here to support you with integrated pest management (IPM), which combines multiple approaches, like:

• monitoring and identification
• cultural and biological controls
• hygiene and sanitation
• environmental management
• responsible pesticide use.

Our nursery paper is a good starting guide – read it at

www.greenlifeindustry.org.au/news/nursery-paper-may-26

Building our future leaders

The levy-funded Nursery Emerging Leaders program was designed to strengthen practical leadership skills in nursery businesses.

It's having a real impact on the ground – Matte at Jong's Nursery used the program to develop escalation skills, stronger team management and emotional awareness. 

Nursery owner Peter Jong says the program gave staff practical leadership experience and valuable professional learning.

Do you have an emerging leader in your business who could benefit from the program? Read our case study.

Ball Australia - improvements at scale

Ball Australia used the GrowConnex program to develop its own sustainability programs, improve plant quality and pest management and develop career pathway programs for staff across its production nursery in Skye, Victoria.

Product Manager Gideon Cox says "If you're a nursery grower, there's a real benefit in being involved with your Extension Officer for all the services and information they can provide you."

Moving plants from

Victoria to Queensland?

NABS mentoring program – EOIs open

Under pressure? Have your say on industry investment

Hort Innovation’s 2026 Grower and Partner Survey (GaPS) is open. 

We know many growers are under a lot of pressure from rising costs and difficult seasonal impacts. Your feedback will help Hort Innovation focus its investments where they can make the biggest difference for you and your business, helping you stay viable and competitive into the future.

Complete the survey: Grower and Partner Survey (GaPS).

GIA on Country Hour

Covid-era tech to save growers time and money

Australian growers could soon save critical time and money following the announcement of a new $11m plant biosecurity system, the BiosecurityTrakka.

The BiosecurityTrakka is a coordinated, secure and scalable national platform for sharing and analysing plant pest and pathogen data. Diagnostic turnaround times are expected to reduce from 8-12 days to just three days by 2028!