Date: Tuesday, 3 February 2026
Time: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm (AEDT)
Location: John Cresswell’s farm, 165 Red Hills Road, Branxholm, Tasmania
Registration: Click here to register. Registrations are essential for catering purposes.
About the Session
Join leading industry experts for a practical, field-based workshop focused on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and an update on the Integrated Disease Management Program for the Australian Potato Industry project.
Designed for growers and agronomists, this workshop combines foundational knowledge with hands-on learning to support informed, in-season decision-making. Participants will gain practical strategies they can apply immediately to improve pest and disease outcomes for the remainder of the season.
Workshop Details
IPM Fundamentals
Dr Paul Horne and Rebecca Addison (IPM Technologies) will cover the fundamentals of IPM in potato crops, including pest monitoring, recognising beneficial insects, and making informed management decisions. A guided field walk will follow, giving participants hands-on experience scouting for pests and beneficials and translating observations into practical, in-season actions.
Integrated Disease Management Project Update
Dr Audrey Leo (Simplot and Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania) will provide an update on a new national Integrated Disease Management Program focused on limiting inoculum build-up, preventing infection, and identifying new control options. The program aims to improve diagnostics, soil health, and management strategies to reduce the impact of key potato diseases, including powdery scab, common scab, pink rot, and Rhizoctonia.
Workshop Timing
9:30 am – Presentations commence (sharp) followed by a practical scouting session and project updates.
1:00 pm – Lunch and networking with growers, agronomists, and industry representatives.
Meet the Presenters
Dr. Paul Horne (IPM Technologies)
Dr Paul Horne is an entomologist and since 1996 has been owner and director of IPM Technologies Pty Ltd. He has been involved with the development and implementation of IPM in a wide range of crops but specialising in potato crops in Australia for over 30 years. A strong focus of his work has been the implementation and adoption of IPM strategies. This has also involved a strong research component on the impact of pesticides on species of beneficial invertebrates
Rebecca Addison (IPM Technologies)
Coming soon.
Dr Audrey Leo (Simplot)
Audrey leads several major research initiatives within the company and is nominated for 2025 Bayer Researcher of the Year. She is currently working in collaboration with Professor Calum Wilson from the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture and Michael Rettke from SARDI on a new, nationally coordinated project for the potato industry focused on integrated disease management in potatoes.
More Information
Please contact Seona Findlay, PotatoLink Regional Representative: 0428 922 106 or seona.findlay@gmail.com
-
Seona Findlay brings over two decades of hands on agronomy experience to the role as PotatoLink Tasmania representative. Having worked as a private agronomist across Tasmania for the past 18 years and prior to that sales agronomist roles with local resellers.
After graduating from UTAS, she recognised the growing need for independent, practical, and research driven advice for Tasmanian growers, an approach that has shaped her career ever since.
In her new position with PotatoLink, Seona looks forward to delivering uptodate presentations, sharing insights from leading experts, and helping transfer the latest research and field knowledge to growers through field days, training events, and industry networks. Her work spans a wide range of Tasmanian crops, giving her a broad understanding of local farming systems and their interactions and the challenges and opportunities they face.
Seona is passionate about education, sustainable agriculture, and continuous improvement, with a strong focus on longterm farm health and practical solutions for growers that result in profitable outcomes.
When she’s not out in the paddock, you’ll find her enjoying time with her children and making the most of Tasmania’s great outdoors.