Agricultural and regional events succumb to coronavirus

With agricultural and regional events sadly not immune to coronavirus, check this guide for the latest restrictions, cancellations and postponements.

In happier times: A section of the crowd at the 2018 Man From Snowy River festival in Corryong. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Women On Farms Gathering

The 2020 Women On Farms Gathering, which was to be held this weekend in Inglewood in central Victoria, has been postponed until September 18-20.

“As we enter an unprecedented phase in world health due to the COVID-19 virus, the Inglewood committee is postponing WoFG2020,” a post on the event’s Facebook page read.

“We thank you for your understanding as we prioritise the health and wellbeing of volunteers, gathering goers and the community as a whole.”

Tenth International Spinach Conference

The Tenth International Spinach Conference has been postponed.

The event had been scheduled to be held at Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, during the first week of May as part of the East Gippsland Vegetable Innovation Days 2020.

Winery Walkabout festival

The Winemakers of Rutherglen plan to delay any announcement on postponing or cancelling this year’s Winery Walkabout festival until after Easter.

Thousands of wine-lovers visit Rutherglen each year for the event, which is scheduled for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

Hort Connections 2020

AUSVEG and the Produce Marketing Association of Australia — New Zealand have reluctantly decided to postpone Hort Connections 2020, which was due to be held from June 15-17 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

“Our industry’s top priority is the health and safety of our community; this includes consumers, growers and other industry partners,” they wrote in a statement.

Agfest

Tasmania’s agricultural festival Agfest, scheduled for May, has been called off.

More than 700 exhibitors had already been locked in for the annual event, which was tipped to draw crowds of 65,000 people.

Hobart’s Spiegeltent has announced arts and cultural events will no longer continue at the venue.

LambEx

Sheep and lamb conference LambEx will be postponed for 12 months due to COVID-19, with a new date of June 30-July 2, 2021, set.

Conference Chair Georgina Gubbins says the decision was made in the best interests of protecting delegates’ health and our whole industry.

“Due to the current circumstances, LambEx organisers have made the decision because we have a responsibility to ensure the wellbeing of all involved,” she said.

“We want to ensure that when sponsors, exhibitors and delegates come to LambEx, they can book with confidence knowing that everything will proceed as scheduled and the current environment is too uncertain.”

Stawell Gift

The Stawell Gift will not go ahead as scheduled over Easter.

However organisers were assessing options for potentially rescheduling the event for later in the year.

“The Stawell Athletic Club wishes to thank all of our participants, partners, spectators and suppliers for their patience and understanding at this challenging time,” a statement announcing the decision said.

Farming Matters conference

The Farming Matters conference scheduled for Albury this week will not go ahead due to COVID-19. Organised by the Australian chapter of the Savory Global Network conference, the event was due to be headlined by Zimbabwean farmer Allan Savory, founder of the holistic management approach. Due to travel restrictions, Savory will not visit Australia and the even has been postponed. Organiser Tony Hill said he hoped the event would be rescheduled for later in the year, about September.

Grampians Grape Escape

Organisers of the Grampians Grape Escape have decided to cancel the event, which was to be held on the first weekend in May, because of COVID-19.

This means the food and wine festival, which attracts thousands of visitors to Halls Gap across the two days, will not go ahead this year.

In a statement, organisers encouraged people to still plan a trip to the region.

“For those who will be in town visiting the Grampians on the weekend GGE was planned or any other time of the year, please know, there will be an adventure waiting for you, whether you are a wine lover, outdoor explorer or foodie, so we encourage you to come with a full heart and an empty esky,” the statement said.

Clearing sales

Nutrien Ag Solutions has cancelled clearing sales nationwide.

“We will review this decision ... and consider any changing circumstances,” a statement said when the cancellation was announced.

“We know this will be disruptive to our customers, but we must make decisions that are in the best interests of the health of our employees, our customers and the general public.”

Rodwells & Co - Horsham has postponed clearing sales until further notice.

Livestock sales

Members of the public — including sellers — have been excluded from livestock sales at Horsham.

“To ensure that sales can continue, council needs to limit the attendance by non-essential people at the site”, an announcement from Horsham Rural City Council said.

“Access during the sale will be restricted to agents, buyers, transport operators, council and their staff.

“The general public will not be able to attend, even if they are sellers at the sale.

“We are conscious that many regular attendees are in an age bracket that is potentially more vulnerable to the virus, and are taking this measure as a means of ensuring continuity of the sales.”

Casino Beef Week

Casino Beef Week has been postponed.

“I, Frank McKey, the president wish to inform the community that the 2020 Casino Beef Week held in May is postponed to later in the year,” a Beef Week statement said.

“This is due to the Public Health Order (COVID-19 Public Events) in place till 14 June 2020, provided by Brad Hazzard MP, (NSW) Minister for Health.

“The Casino Beef Week Committee is saddened to make this decision, and we will work towards delivering our icon festival, possibly in early September which is dependent on the Australian Government advice.”

Farm World field days

The Farm World field days will not go ahead this year, with the State of Emergency declaration in Victoria forcing the hand of organisers.

Intercollegiate Meat Judging Association Northern Conference

The Intercollegiate Meat Judging Association has postponed its Northern Conference, which was scheduled to be held in Rockhampton next month.

Hosted by CQUniversity and Teys Australia in Rockhampton, the event provides meat science training and career development networking to university students from across Australia, as well as young beef industry professionals.

Tourism North East (Victoria) has stated it was echoing state and federal government advice around the community benefits of social distancing.

The organisation said it was supportive of the proactive decisions by several major High Country events to cancel.

Acting chief executive Sarah Pilgrim described the move as “socially responsible”.

Those currently affected included the High Country Hops Festival in Beechworth, Yackandandah Folk Festival, Off Grid Living Festival in Eldorado and the Man from Snowy River Festival in Corryong.

Tourism North East was currently working with those events receiving grant funding support to enable those postponed or cancelled to be run at a later date.

African Swine Fever: Are You Ready

The Victorian Farmers Federation Pigs Group postponed the ‘African Swine Fever: Are You Ready” event, which was to have been held in Bendigo.

Wall to Wall Festival

Organisers of Benalla’s Wall to Wall Festival said it would not go ahead from April 3-5, adding it was hoped the event would be rescheduled.

Genetics Australia conference

Organisers of the Genetics Australia conference were forced to postpone a forum planned as part of it, but a farm tour was to continue as planned.

Warwick Show

The Warwick Show was cancelled.

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