The Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand program is rapidly becoming the benchmark for viticultural management in New Zealand. The program involves the evaluation of the environmental impact of vineyard operations and encourages the adoption of best practice methods which minimise environmental degradation. The program encompasses resource management, soil health, biodiversity, water use and agrichemical use
According to a report by DANA Publishing (The NZ Wine Industry Review 2005 Ed:- An Independent Perspective), participation will become essential in order to maintain access to our export markets and the supply chains of the major overseas supermarkets and liquor distribution retailers. Sustainable Winegrowing certification provides the grower and winemaker with a competitive advantage when competing with other producers for access to export markets.
An integral aspect of the SWNZ program is the co-ordination of fungicide and pesticide applications with regular monitoring of insect pest and fungal pathogen populations; then spraying only when a predetermined threshold has been reached. This maintains crop quality while benefiting the environment through reduced chemical use. Costs for the grower are also reduced; a true win-win situation.
The Viticulture Practice has extensive experience working with the SWNZ program and is able to provide a pest and disease monitoring service along the SWNZ guide-lines. A full schedule of seven visits per block co-ordinated with grapevine’s key growth stages is available (see Table 1. below) One-off assessments or other schedules determined by the grower’s specific requirements are also available. A single assessment is often of benefit to a grower as will provide an evaluation of the amount and type of the diseases present in the vineyard.
With each assessment a qualified scout will identify and record disease incidence, populations of insect pests and also presence beneficial insects. The presence of virus symptoms, nutrient deficiencies and crop damage will also be noted. A written report will be presented after each visit.
Other P & D related services offered by The Viticulture Practice include installing and monitoring pheremone traps to record Light Brown Apple Moth numbers in the vineyard and the measurement of Grass Grub populations.
Viticulturists Lex Thomson and Franzi Grab both have degrees from Lincoln University and have studied with renown plant pathologist Dr Marlene Jaspers.
| Full Program (7 assessments). | $45.00/assessment./block |
| Partial programs and one-off assessments. | $55.00/assessment/block |
| All prices are GST exclusive. |
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 |
| Powdery mildew | Eutypa die back |
Assesment |
Growth Stage |
Target disease and pest. |
|
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Shoots 25-35cm. |  |
|
2 |
Pre-flowering. |  |
|
3 |
Full bloom. |  |
|
4 |
Pre-bunch closure. |  |
|
5 |
Bunch closure. |  |
|
6 |
Veraison. |  |
|
7 |
Harvest. |  |
|
©The Viticulture Practice Ltd. 2010