Registrations are now open for the Annual Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia (RGA) Annual Conference to be held in Leeton on Thursday, 5 August 2010, in the Leeton Roxy Theatre.  

RGA Executive Director, Ruth Wade said the conference was a must attend event for rice growers and industry leaders.  

“The industry’s future and its demonstrated ability to adapt to change, including access to less water, will be the focus of next month’s RGA Annual Conference.” 

“We have an excellent line up of speakers who will focus on the path ahead and how we can apply the skills we’ve already learnt to the challenges before us,” she said.   “This year’s speakers have broad appeal and we’re expecting close to 250 attendees from across the rice growing region.

” Mrs Wade said the conference’s key note speaker was Mr Mike Taylor AO, Chairman of the Murray Darling Basin Authority. The draft Basin Plan is scheduled for release in the coming months and will without a doubt shape the future of our industry. The 2010 Annual Conference will give many irrigators an opportunity to hear Mr Taylor discuss the much anticipated Plan.

Joining Mr Taylor as speakers at conference will be three of our industry’s young people. Lachlan Bull, Nathan Hehir and Lloyd Polkinghorne, participants in the ‘Voices of the Future’ program which enabled future industry leaders to investigate the proposed draft Basin Plan in detail in Canberra, will share their thoughts on what lies ahead for the industry. 

Mrs Wade said with conference being held in Leeton, the RGA was also taking the opportunity to put post-conference tours back on the agenda.  

“Attendees will have the rare opportunity to tour SunRice operations including Leeton Mill, CopRice and the Specialty Rice Foods site, which manufactures the 90 Second microwave rice pouches,” she said. 

“Due to the success of the post-conference dinner last year, an informal dinner will also remain on the program. This provides conference attendees with an important opportunity to relax and mix with each other and our sponsors. 

“Conference is an important event in the rice calendar and we hope to see as many growers there as possible.” 

The RGA 2010 Annual Conference will be held at the Leeton Roxy Theatre on Thursday 5 August 2010 from 10am – 5.30pm. Dinner will follow at the Leeton Soldiers Club from 6.30pm.The conference is free to financial RGA members and their partners. Non members and non financial members are welcome to attend at $60 per person. 

For more information visit www.rga.org.au or phone RGA (02) 6953 0433.  Registration forms are available from the RGA office.