AWITC Regional innovation and technology transfer forum 2007: bringing latest overseas sustainable technology innovations and research extensions from the 13th AWITC to growers in wine regions
Abstract
The AWITC Regional Innovation and Technology Transfer Forum 2007 consisted of 11 seminars
conducted across SA (5), Victoria (4), and NSW (2). The seminars brought to growers latest, cutting edge
overseas and Australian information in a ‘ready-to-adopt’ format on how to maximise natural biological
control of pests and diseases in vineyards topical to advancing sustainable wine grape production in
Australia. Information on research results, practical vineyard methods, agronomy application in
Australian conditions, and on-costs savings and marketing advantages was provided. First-hand practical
information was provided on a sustainable winegrape production certification scheme operating in USA,
technical support required for the scheme, including Microsoft Access Database for recording pest and
disease data directly in the field, its automatic graph/summary generation, allowing growers and wine
companies to collate historical records of pest, disease and IPM data, comparing vine blocks, vineyards,
and growing seasons, in a accessible time-saving format, useful to low input viticulture.
International and Australian speakers delivered the seminars: Prof Steve Wratten (National Centre for
Advanced Bio-protection Technologies, Lincoln University, New Zealand), Dr Clifford Ohmart (Lodi
Woodridge Wine grape commission, California, USA), Mr Tom Ayers (Adelaide Hills Vineyard
Contractors), Dr Cate Paull (University of Adelaide/SARDI), Dr Martina Bernard (The University of
Melbourne), Mr David Braybrook (Vitisolutions Ltd., Eastern Institute of TAFE). A DVD of S. Wratten’s
and T. Ayers’ presentations was prepared, and distributed to participating regions. It is available for notfor-
profit-distribution to the Australian wine industry.
Summary
New, ‘ready to apply’ overseas research and extension information from 13th AWITC conference workshop W35, on sustainable pest management was brought to regions in SA, Vic, NSW. Two international expert speakers traveled to the regions together with Australian speakers presenting seminars, and ensuring that growers unable to attend the 13th AWITC W35 did not miss out on new information topical to extending sustainable pest management beyond the current level. The information was extended to c. 600 growers/viticulturists/wine industry staff. A total of 11 seminars were conducted.
New overseas research was extended to growers by Prof Wratten, on how to improve LBAM biological control by providing critical, specifically selected, nectar resources to a key LBAM parasitoid wasp abundant in Australian vineyards (Dolichogenidea tasmanica) in every 10th mid row, to control LBAM without the need to use pesticides. First-hand Australian experience on practical use of buckwheat plants, to provide this nectar source was also extended to growers by an innovator/viticulturist/grower, Mr Tom Ayers (Adelaide Hills Vineyard Contractors), who shared his practical agronomy experience gained in piloting the new techniques in his vineyard in 2006-07, and provided a cost benefit analysis. In two regions in Victoria where speakers could not travel (Ararat and King Valley) these presentations were delivered by Dr M. Bernard.
This project has exceeded its target by providing Australian cost-benefit analysis of using buckwheat as a nectar source in vineyards; piloting to evaluate agronomic suitability of buckwheat in every 10th mid row indicated low per ha costs, which were returned by savings made from preventing the use of a single insecticide spray (see DVD for details).
New innovative overseas research on Botrytis bunch rot biological control was extended to growers by Prof Steve Wratten. Information was provided on how to control Botrytis bunch rot by breaking Botrytis lifecycle via mulching canes in the under-wine strip and in so doing, composting the Botrytis primary inoculum during its over-wintering on the vineyard floor.
Information was extended to growers by Dr Cliff Ohmart on ‘best-practice’ IPM and pest monitoring data base, IPM advisory service delivery, and certification scheme for sustainable wine grape production (www.lodirules.com) implemented by Lodi- Woodridge Wine Commission in California across its base of 750 members. The unique, practical and easy to use Lodi Microsoft Access pest/disease/PM monitoring database, not available elsewhere, was shown to growers and wine companies, communicating its advantages, including time-saving, direct field data entry, and automatic graph and summary functions.
A DVD of Prof Wratten’s and T. Ayers’ presentations (Appendix I) was made and was distributed to participating regions, DPI NSW, DPI Victoria Grapecheque, and to individual growers in the two NSW regions where the speakers could not travel. Further copies are available on request from M Bernard, for use on not-for-profit basis, for the purpose of extending sustainable practices to grape growers and wine companies in Australia, as per permission from Prof Wratten.
A list of growers/ viticulturists/ wine companies interested in piloting various new practices extended in this forum in 2007-08 or 2008-09, and who wish to receive further information, and potentially form a local implementation focus group was compiled (Appendix III).