Conference MEATing Centre Photo Competition Return to Events Home     AGFoRCe 2008 STaTe CoNFeReNCe Proserpine Entertainment Centre Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, September 16, 17 and 18   FoCuSiNG THe FuTuRe   AGENDA    Tuesday, September 16 Wednesday, September 17 Thursday, September 18 Friday, September 19   Monday, September 15   Pre-conference event AgForce is offering members a unique chance to understand the technology behind the debate of Genetic Modification. CSIRO and Agrifood Awareness Australia will run a one day hands-on gene technology workshop for producers on September 15 in Proserpine to tie in with the AgForce 2008 State Conference. The workshop will outline the research involved, the advances currently provided by gene technology, future research opportunities, and the regulatory system underpinning gene technology research. Participants will also have the opportunity to extract DNA and isolate and transfer genes. The gene technology workshop is also a great opportunity to discuss key issues such as community perceptions and industry positions. The workshop is free of charge but places are limited! All meals including morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are included. To register contact Nadja Moritz from Agrifood Awareness Australia Limited on 02 6273 9535 or NadjaMoritz@afaa.com.au or click here to check out the flyer.   Tuesday, September 16   Industry Tour Sponsored by AustSafe Super Participants assemble at 9.30am for a 10am departure for a tour that includes:   Proserpine Sugar Mill The Proserpine Sugar Mill is a true co-operative wholly owned by its grower members. The Mill was established in 1897 and became a cooperative in 1931. In its first season in 1897 the Mill processed 10,919 tons of cane from 39 suppliers. In 2007 the Mill processed 1.75 million tonnes of cane from 242 suppliers and produced 247,323 tonnes of IPS sugar all of which is exported. Other products include molasses (mainly for stockfeed), mill mud (normally returned to cane paddocks), bagasse (for boiler fuel) and electricity (for own consumption and export to the grid). The Proserpine Sugar Mill is known for its innovative approach and has recently embarked on two major value adding projects.  These are the production of furfural from bagasse and the production of a soil conditioner from organic by-products. The furfural plant is established within the existing mill infrastructure and is well advanced. Commissioning is expected later this year and commercial production from the 2009 season. Development of the soil conditioner facility is also well advanced at a site near the Proserpine Airport and it is anticipated that in excess of 10,000 tonnes of product will be produced in 2008 for export. Conference members will be able to see first hand how sugar cane is processed in one of the most advanced sugar mills in Queensland. The tour will include:  l Cane receivals - this is where the cane is weighed and delivered into the factory  l Milling - this is the separation of juice from the fibre in the sugar cane  l Sugar production - visitors are able to see to final process in the production of sugar  l Visitors may see a sugar train being loaded for transport to export terminal   Koorelah Farm - Bowen Andrew Willcox of Koorelah Farms is one of Australia's premier tomato growers. Koorelah Farms was founded by Andrew Willcox's father, John, and now employs 300 people. John used to grow 15 different crops on the property but switched to solely tomatoes - a move, he says, that has been proven to be right. Koorelah Farm produces about 12-12,000 tonnes of tomatoes annually, mainly supplying the domestic market including almost every capital city. Their predominant export market is New Zealand, which takes about 10 per cent of the farm's production. The tour will include:  l 400 acres of modern irrigation  l State of the art washing and packing facility  l Dispatch operation   Whitsunday Gold Coffee Plantation - Proserpine Peter and Nikki Phillips have diversified their established can farm to include the Whitsunday Gold coffee plantation because of the product’s ability to offer both a saleable commodity and a tourism outlet. Whitsunday Gold was established with 100 acres of coffee plants and all the value-adding of the production is done on-farm from processing to packaging. Whitsunday Gold products are available through all the local supermarkets, online via their website and have recently been introduced into Sydney supermarkets. The business continues to grow with plans of a tourist information centre, coffee shop and farm tours. AgForce conference tour attendees will be treated to an information session by the plantation farm manager while sipping on Whitsunday Gold Coffee and a sumptuous afternoon tea. Welcome Drinks & Registration - 6pm - 9pm Sponsored by AustSafe Super Coral Sea Resort, 25 Oceanview Avenue, Airlie Beach Register for the conference and meet conference sponsors and catch up with other delegates in a relaxed atmosphere over a few drinks and dinner.   Wednesday, September 17 Conference registration - 8am – 9am Conference commences - 9am Regional welcome - AgForce North regional chair Greg McNamara Welcome - Whitsunday Regional Council deputy mayor Rogin Taylor President's Welcome - AgForce president Peter Kenny Keynote address - Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke Morning tea  - 10am - 10.30am President's Report - AgForce president Peter Kenny Session: Sponsored by Westpac Regional & Agribusiness Banking "Families and communities into the future" Speaker: proAgtive's Isobel Knight Address: "A Fresh Approach" by Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin Lunch  - 12.30pm - 1.30pm - Sponsored by the departments of Primary Industries and Fisheries and Local Government, Sport and Recreation Session: Sponsored by the departments of Primary Industries and Fisheries and Local Government, Sport and Recreation "Technology for the future" This session of interactive demonstrations will showcase the latest development innovations and technology and will provide delegates with hands-on demonstrations of what they can expect to see in use in agricultural enterprises in the future. Afternoon tea  - 3pm - 3.30pm Address - National Farmers' Federation president David Crombie AgForce key issues session This session will examine current major AgForce issues. Conference close - 5pm AgForce 2008 Conference Dinner Sponsored by Wesfarmers Federation Insurance 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Airlie Beach foreshore   Thursday, September 18 Times subject to change. Conference registration - 8.30am - 9am Conference commences - 9am Session: Sponsored by Mitsubishi Motors "A view from the outside - perceptions and image" Speaker: Executive producer of ABC television's Landline program, Peter Lewis Address: Queensland Shadow Minister for Food Security and Agriculture Mike Horan Presentation: Ecosystem Dynamics Simulator Speaker: Environmental Protection Agency principal conservation officer Michael Ngugi Presentation of the AgForce Agricultural College Bursary Morning tea  - 10.30am - 11am Session 5: Sponsored by Meat & Livestock Australia "Agriculture and food - where are we heading" Speaker: Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics (ABARE) executive director Phillip Glyde Session: Sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency "Weather forecasting and what it means for you" Speaker: Land & Water Australia's Colin Creighton Lunch  - 12.30pm - 1.30pm - Sponsored by the departments of Primary Industries and Fisheries and Local Government, Sport and Recreation Speaker: Local Government, Sport and Recreation Minister Warren Pitt Session: AgForce Services Information and discussion relating to the various AgForce services AgForce Annual General Meeting Introduction of the new AgForce State Council members Afternoon tea  - 3pm - 3.30pm Speakers: AgForce Grains president Lyndon Pfeffer, AgForce Sheep & Wool president Hugh Miller, AgForce Cattle president Greg Brown Concurrent sessions: l Livestock - beef cattle and sheep and wool production l Grains - grains and cropping - Speaker - QUT's Richard Brown Conference close - 5pm   Farewell dinner Sponsored by Meat & Livestock Australia 5.30pm Proserpine Entertainment Centre Friday, September 19 Details to be announced. AgForce State Council meeting (The conference program is current at the time of publication, however, the conference manager reserves the right to alter or delete items from this program.)