Early Birds An “early bird” expression of interest form is available on-line now for those people who would like to register their interest in attending. This does not mean that you must attend, it means that you will have priority when places and packages are confirmed. Full information on speakers, costs etc. will be available in the new year and everyone who has registered their interest will be eligible for confirmed registration and special conference discounts. So send in your forms now and you will automatically be sent a conference program and registration in the new year. “Early bird” forms will also be available in the next industry newsletter.

"GROWING OUR FUTURE"...

...is a two day conference specifically designed to take the delegate through a process of checking farm practices, learning of new innovations in the industry that will help improve efficiency , yield, quality, marketing ability, etc on the one day, then followed on the second day by a business approach to farming that will cover finances, business skills, working out your costs and profits and how to improve.

The end of the second day will take growers through an exercise in how to arrive at the farm’s true profitability. The previous two days of information and workshops should have provided the building blocks on which a grower can more accurately determine his future in the industry having in mind the availability of new varieties and more efficient farming practices.

Speakers with successful and not so successful examples of farm financial improvement will give their insights. As will our Queensland Department of Primary Industry researchers and other experts be able to show results of programs that can benefit the grower. Speakers from other groups will cover cross-industry issues such as water rights, chemical use, transport and storage, supermarket relationships and much more.

In order to provide the best possible speakers, venue, conference material, and to ensure that all delegates have the opportunity to participate in conference activities and invaluable workshops, it is necessary to limit the number of attendees to 90.

Of course, there is plenty of accommodation and activities for delegates families and visitors.

The custard apple industry’s last conference “Strength in Unity” was held on the Sunshine Coast during July 1999. The emphasis for that conference was research and development and marketing. In the four years between conferences a range of new issues, problems and opportunities have arisen and it seems timely that this next conference in July 2003 will take as it’s theme:

“GROWING OUR FUTURE

– Ways and Means of Improving Your Bottom Line”

Farming may be a “lifestyle” choice for some, but too many farmers are unaware of the reality of just what farming is costing them. The old adage “I started with nothing, and I still have some of it left” unfortunately holds true for too many trying to make a living from the land.

This conference is expected to bring together custard apple growers and others in business and industry to offer opportunities to not only remain viable in Australian agriculture but also to recognize opportunities and plan for a future as a major player in Australian horticulture. To put before growers information on how and where to make their farms profitable and ensure a growth in sales and demand for our product.

We are in a low profit – high risk business and those producers who are capable of adapting to the changing realities of the market are likely to achieve reasonable returns on their investment.

This conference aims to bring speakers and experts from relevant fields to inform and challenge growers and industry stakeholders to take a business-like approach to their operations. To show how and where new strategies and methods will improve your power in the marketplace and bring financial rewards.

Experts in fields such as banking, finance, accounting, computing, business skills etc will rub shoulders with boffins talking new varieties ready for release (which is suitable for your area?), better pruning methods, new thinking in nutrition etc.

Horticulture Australia will discuss the industry promotions campaign, begun with the new promotions levy and with some results beginning to be measurable.

Acaga, Inc and our partner Queensland Department of Primary Industry will be giving insights into the research and development programs that are on-going with the help of the industry levy.

Too good to miss – this conference should give attendees invaluable information on which to assess their future in the custard apple industry – making a profit is the bottom line.

Making a profit means not just in the short term, it means putting a product in the marketplace that the consumers want and that the wholesalers and retailers want to handle. The agenda will reflect the conference theme by offering sessions in a variety of topics that will, over the two days, give a complete picture of your custard apple farming business.

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