ABARE’s executive director Phillip Glyde said the survey results would assist with industry benchmarking to target industry efforts for performance improvement.

"It is important that we can continue to get accurate information from vegetable growers about their industry so we can work together to improve its future. I strongly encourage growers to cooperate," Mr Glyde said.

The survey seeks information about production, financial situation and socio-economic characteristics of growers to help build a comprehensive database of valuable time series data.

This survey is the second year of a three-year vegetable survey program ABARE is conducting on behalf of Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL).

Surveys of vegetable growers will be conducted through face-to-face interviews by official ABARE field collectors.

All information provided will remain confidential and survey findings will not identify individuals or their businesses.

The survey begins on April 29 and is expected to be completed by mid-June. Survey results are expected to be released in September 2009.

Results from the first survey of vegetable growers can be found in the report Australian vegetable growing farms; an economic survey, 2006-07 which can be downloaded from the ABARE website.