35TH AUSTRALIAN MUSHROOM GROWERS' CONFERENCE - 1ST - 5TH
OCTOBER
This will be a conference that will deliver the usual high
standard of presentations/ topics that we have all come
to expect.
We will have an outstanding presentation from Geert
Lemmers - Sylvan Holland on Compost
Management. You will find of great interest
the presentation by Julian
Alston.
Tom
Potter from Eagle
Boys Pizza is going to talk to us about Change–
Its Here Forever, Deal With It.
I encourage you not miss the opportunity to network with
the other delegates, our speakers, sponsors and exhibitors.
We will again this year devote a full day to farm walk,
visit to the CSIRO and Werribee
Mansion, this day will really be something special.
Our conference will be held at Rydges,
Exhibition Street, Melbourne. This venue is located in the
heart of the city and in the middle of Chinatown & the
live theatre area of Melbourne. This area has numerous restaurants
and theatres in the area. if you love live theatre then
it would be worth while checking what is playing at the
time of
the conference
You are located very close to the famous Paris end of Collins
Street, home to some of the major designer label shops.
Nearby is Bridge Street Richmond and Chapel Street Prahran,
both these areas are famous for designer outlet shops. Maybe
you could talk a walk over to the very famous Victoria Markets
or ride a Melbourne tram.
I look forward to welcoming you to city renowned for its
food, shopping, theatre and AFL football.
Australian Mushroom Industry Levy Ballot
Change in Method
Results of Ballot
The ballot proposed that the method of collection of the
levy be changed from a levy on Mushroom spawn, to a levy
based on volume of Mushroom production collected at the
first point of sale.
The ballot closed at 5.00pm on Friday July 11 and the Australian
Electoral Commission (AEC) have advised the results as follows:
Total eligible voters
84
Total ballots cast
52
Total voted yes
30
Total voted no
21
Given the number of "no" votes received, the
AMGA is keen to understand the concerns of those that have
voted no. The AMGA therefore will be sending a letter to
all mushroom levy payers, requesting that those who have
voted no to anonymously advise their reasons before it proceeds
with a formal application to have the method of collection
changed.
Introduction
Mushroom
growers in Australia
invest statutory levy funds in a national research and development
program and a marketing & promotions program aimed at
driving growth in the Australian mushroom market. The investment
program is overseen by a group of industry representatives
with an independent chair known as the Mushroom Industry
Advisory Committee (MIAC). MIAC is a committee of the Horticulture
Australia Board and is charged with recommending how the
mushroom industry levy funds should be invested. HAL is
a company owned by Australian horticulture industries and
administers the collection and distribution of the levy
funds.
Statutory Levy on Agaricus Mushrooms
The R&D and M&P
programs are funded by a compulsory levy on mushroom growers
of $2.16 per kilogram of spawn purchased. 25% of the funds
collected are allocated to research & development and
75% to marketing & promotions.
Strategic Plan
The Australian Mushroom
Growers have developed a vision for the future and put a
strategic plan in place to guide the industry towards reaching
its vision by 2011.
The overriding goal is
to create an environment that allows growers to maximise
the return on their mushroom industry investments.
The strategic plan sets
out how the industry aims to achieve this by:
• developing an environment where there is a strong
demand for mushrooms
• providing information to increase efficiencies on
farm
• minimising risks to the industry
Mushroom levy contributors
can obtain copies of the industry's strategic and annual
investment plans by contacting the AMGA on 02 4577 6877
or emailing us at info@amga.asn.au
Annual Reports
An annual report is presented
to levy payers at the Annual Levy Payers meeting, usually
held during the industry's annual conference in September/October
year.
Communication Strategy
The Australian Mushroom
Industry produces a Statutory Levy Update three times per
year which is designed to provide information about research
and development and marketing and development activities
conducted and planned for the future.
Tom
Potter from Eagle
Boys Pizza is going to talk to us about Change–
Its Here Forever, Deal With It.
