Presidents Message
The HGA AGM in October 2011 was held after what I think was one of the best annual conferences ever. After Basil Baldwin’s decision to step back from the Committee for a year, I decided to nominate for HGA President. Much to my surprise I was elected unopposed and I am honoured to take up this role. While I am reasonably well known to NSW members, I’d like to take the opportunity to introduce myself and talk about the year ahead of us.
My husband, Clem, and I have been growing hazelnuts at Mudgee, NSW since 1997, and we have been HGA members since 1998. For many years we were solely hazelnut propagators and processors but we are now also growers and expect our first crop off our orchard of 3000 trees next year.
Prior to being elected president I have served the HGA as Secretary (several times), Vice President and assisted my husband when he was Treasurer. For several years I sat on the HGA’s Research and Industry Development Committee, and have been the HGA’s delegate to the Australian Nut Industry Council — the hazelnut industry’s conduit to the Australian and world nut industries.
This experience in all facets of the tree nut industry has given me an insight and appreciation of the challenges faced by all HGA members, big and small.
These challenges include maintaining vigilance regarding national and on-farm biosecurity as well as continuing to qualify the pests and diseases that affect hazelnuts, and widening the range of chemicals (including organic) permitted for their control. Harvesting, handling, storage, nut quality, and chemical residue issues are all becoming increasingly important as our industry matures.
The HGA has an important role in fostering and creating stability and security for the national industry, while recognizing its inherent diversity, during a period of many changes. These changes include the likelihood of a diminishing world hazelnut supply due to structural adjustment taking place in Turkey, increasing demand and a major new player in the domestic industry. We need to understand the challenges of climate change - warmer temperatures and changing rainfall patterns may affect many aspects of hazelnut growing. We are seeing changes to scientific methods and increased emphasis on safety and accountability - both safe farm operations and safe food products.
In responding to these challenges I hope that more members will take an active role in the HGA and spread the load. There is a need to plan for continuity and succession and I particularly encourage the HGA’s younger members to become involved in their peak industry body.
Lastly, I wish you all a good growing season and with Christmas less than two months away, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year full of peace, happiness and a good harvest.
Vanessa Cox
Mudgee, NSW
November 2011
One of HGA’s most significant publications in recent years has now been released.