Over the past six months, the PotatoLink project delivered ten in person events and activities held in key potato growing regions. The topics covered at these events included seed handling and storage, disease management, soil biology, moisture monitoring, the use of biological products, weed management and herbicide use. Two of the events were delivered in collaboration with other projects, namely with VegNET in Gawler, Tasmania and the Soil Wealth ICP project in Gatton, Queensland. A highlight from some of these events was delivery of content by potato expert Associate Professor Andy Robinson, from North Dakota State University. Attendees at these events enjoyed hearing an international perspective and found Andy to be an engaging and knowledgeable presenter.
In addition, three webinars were delivered on topics including weed management and herbicide damage; legumes as an alternative nitrogen source; and mobile drip irrigation. PotatoLink also launched a podcast, with three new episodes available on potassium, magnesium, and soil fumigation. Two online trainings were held, the topics included managing potatoes in wet conditions; and weather tools by the Bureau of Meteorology. The recordings of these trainings have been uploaded to the PotatoLink website.
The proportion of attendees at in-person and online events were approximately 26 per cent growers, 43 per cent suppliers/advisors, 10 per cent processors. In addition, approximately 10 per cent of attendees grow or influence >30,000t annually, 6 per cent 20-30,000t and 24 per cent 10-20,000t. The project team is striving to enhance grower engagement and attendance at future activities.
Feedback collected from attendees have returned an overall average rating of 4.1/5, on how attendees value the webinars, in-person events and online trainings (where 1 is poor and 5 is excellent). Feedback also indicated that 80 per cent of respondents are likely to change farming practice or advice following the event (n=87).
Four factsheets were published during the reporting period on topics of blackleg; nutrition; soil and petiole testing; and irrigation, receiving close to 400 views in total. Two new editions of the PotatoLink magazine (Summer and Autumn Issues) were also published and distributed to subscribers.
The PotatoLink website continues to be a source for all PotatoLink resources and event details with 3,775 site visits (3,043 unique) and 7,214 page views generated from these visits. This has been supported by the monthly e-bulletins delivering information directly to industry.