|
Sustainable Winegrowing.
The Sustainable
Winegrowing NZ 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 recent 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.
Pest
& Disease Monitoring.
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 it provides 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 assesment.
P&D
Monitoring Prices
All prices are GST exclusive.
The Viticulture Practice Full P&D
Monitoring Schedule.
Table 1. SWNZ recommended pest and disease monitoring schedule.
|
Assessment
|
Growth Stage
|
|
Target Diseases & Pests
|
|
1
|
Shoots30-40cm
|
|
Powdery mildew on flag shoots.
Erinose Mite
Phomopsis
|
|
2
|
Pre-flowering
|
|
Powdery mildew on leaves.
Phomopsis
Erinose mite.
|
|
3
|
Full Bloom
|
|
Leafroller.
Downey Mildew
|
|
4
|
Pre-bunch closure
|
|
Powdery mildew in bunches.
|
|
5
|
Bunch Closure
|
|
Powdery Mildew
Leafroller
Botrytis
|
|
6
|
Veraison
|
|
Powdery mildew in bunches.
Leafroller.
Botrytis
|
|
7
|
Harvest
|
|
Botrytis & sour rot.
Leafroller
|
(Graphics from Eichorn –Lorenz, 1977. Stages
in Shoot Development in the Grapevine.)
Additional
SWNZ related services.
Other
services that The Viticulture Practice can offer the winegrower
include:
· soil
management and fertilizer recommendations
· irrigation
scheduling and water conservation
· the
evaluation of grass grub populations. The later pest has been identified as
being responsible for poor strike rates in a number of vineyard
developments.
The
Viticulture Practice is also available to help
with the collation of Scorecards, Spray Logs and Spray Plans and all the
other data required for Sustainable Winegrowing N.Z. audits.
|
