Event details
Date: Tuesday 25 August 2026
Time: 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm (ACST)
Location: Wulanda Leisure Centre, 7 Margaret St, Mt Gambier SA
Registration: Click here to register. Registrations are essential for catering purposes.
This speaker series in Mt Gambier SA is catered toward local growers including Western Victoria, addressing current challenges in the potato industry. Stephanie Tabone will facilitate the day, inviting guest speakers including Sam Work (Limestone Coast Water Alliance), Tom Jefferies (Thomas Elder Sustainable Agriculture), and Daniel Sutton (Vegetables NZ). Hear what they have to share from their experiences with agriculture and the potato industry accompanied by a complimentary midday lunch and afternoon tea.
Topics include
Irrigation system design: Consider how local geographical and environmental conditions inform an efficient irrigation system
Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI): What is it? Is it the best option for your context? What data sources do you need to set up VRI and maintain its effectiveness?
TPP & CLso insights from NZ: Learn from how New Zealand has managed Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP) and Zebra Chip disease (CLso) through monitoring, identification and IPM.
Event schedule
Lunch @ 12:30 pm
Welcome and Introduction
Setting the local context with Sam Work
Considering VRI with Tom Jeffries
Guided discussion
Afternoon tea
TPP and CLso insights from NZ with Daniel Sutton
The speakers
Sam Work
Limestone Coast Water Alliance
Sam Work is an experienced Branch Manager and Area Sales Representative with a strong background in the farming and irrigation sectors. With skills in negotiation, agronomy, water resource management, sales strategy, and client relations, Sam has supported growers across the Limestone Coast to improve productivity and adopt efficient water practices.
He holds a Bachelor of Agriculture from the University of Adelaide and serves as Chairperson of the Limestone Coast Water Alliance, leading regional advocacy for transparent, science‑based water policy and long‑term groundwater security.
Tom Jeffries
Thomas Elder Sustainable Agriculture
Tom Jefferies, a South Australian Ag-tech advisor for Thomas Elder Sustainable Agriculture (TESA) - a division of Elders Rural Services. He specialises in advice for farm sensors, IoT and the use of precision agriculture for irrigated crops.
Tom brings a diverse perspective on farm advice from previous experience working across topics/sectors such as viticulture, general horticulture and pasture agronomy, applied research, extension, tech-informed irrigation scheduling, and various associated Ag-technologies. He hates a red wine and makes a little bit himself in his spare time.
Daniel Sutton
Vegetables NZ
Daniel Sutton is the Research and Development Manager at NZ Veg, leading grower-focused research in integrated pest management, resistance management, and crop protection. Since tomato potato psyllid arrived in New Zealand in 2006, he has worked across the full response, from field detection and monitoring through to product evaluation and on-farm implementation. His work balances effective psyllid control with resistance risk, biological control, and practical decision-making for growers. Daniel works directly with growers to turn research into action, and shares New Zealand's lessons to support preparedness and practical management strategies.
For more information
Please contact Bonnie Dawson, Applied Horticultural Research | 0466 465 896 | bonnie.dawson@ahr.com.au