New spraying system brings big savings in chemicals

Early trials with an innovative vineyard spraying system that uses sensors to accurately control spray rate and direction are showing encouraging results.

University of Queensland researchers say their Pesticide Adjusted for the Canopy Environment (PACE) system has been able to reduce the amount of chemicals used by as much as 50 per cent, even at the full canopy stage.

Apply now for a Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarship

Wine Australia is supporting a 2019 Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarship. Viticulturists and winemakers from across Australia are encouraged to apply. 

Each year, Nuffield Australia awards scholarships to primary producers in Australia to encourage an increase in practical farming knowledge, management skills and techniques. You can read about the journey so far for our 2018 Nuffield Australia Scholarship recipient Marty Gransden here.
 
The scholarships provide an opportunity to travel internationally and study global agricultural practices. In addition, they are developed to encourage a better understanding of farming and agriculture between farmers in the countries visited.

Applications close Friday 15 June 2018.

Monica’s new research is on a (leaf)roll

Based purely on its name, grapevine leafroll should be a relatively easy virus to detect. However, as is the norm with most plant pests and problems, the reality is somewhat different.

Dr Monica Kehoe hopes to find some answers over the next 12 months as she undertakes a research project after winning the Wine Australia supported award at the 2018 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Brett is not gone, so can’t be forgotten

We need to keep talking about Brett. Not because it has become a major problem again, but because researchers want to ensure that it doesn’t.

Recent and ongoing work at the Australian Wine Research Institute has found signs that some strains of the dreaded yeast Brettanomyces may be able to develop resistance to sulfites, which are the common – and generally very effective – way of dealing with them.

GAIA’s A.I. to reveal Mother Earth’s vineyard secrets

Advanced machine learning and high-resolution satellite images are set to revolutionise the Australian grape and wine community’s regional mapping and vineyard insights.

Auxins the best option for controlling ripening

CSIRO researchers are developing what they consider the most viable way for viticulturists to control when wine grapes ripen.

After a lot of painstaking work, a practical solution is close but there is still some scientific fine tuning to come.

Pruning expertise coming to the Hunter and Orange

Pruning workshops and new trials with Shiraz and Pinot Noir will be the focus of the Regional Program in Greater NSW/ACT over the coming months.

Growers need to act now to prepare for Vintage 2019

Post-vintage grapevine management, particularly in dry years, is crucial to a favourable start to the following season. It’s in this light that Wine Australia is encouraging grapegrowers to brush up on post-harvest care as Vintage 2018 wraps up across the country.

In brief 

• Get your pen and paper ready, the 2018 ASVO Scholarship to attend the Advanced Wine Assessment Course (AWAC) is now open. The ASVO scholarship will be offered to one talented individual to attend the AWRI’s highly regarded, four-day intensive Advanced Wine Assessment Course.

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• Applications are now open for Wine Communicators of Australia’s Wine Media Cadetship 2018. The program is geared toward empowering young people who aspire to move into the field of wine journalism and communication.

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• Frontline pest and disease management for healthy vineyards will be the focus of the ASVO seminar in Mildura 25–26 July. Early bird registrations close on 31 April and applications for student scholarships are open.