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WGCSA December Update

Tough times

IMAGE: Eden Hills Country Fire Service posted this image of a CFS volunteer fighting the Cudlee Creek bushfire, with a koala sitting alongside them. (Facebook)

Extreme weather and fires are challenging vineyards, our homes and communities around South Australia

Our sincere thanks and good wishes go to all engaged in protecting lives and properties.

As we work to estimate the extent of the damage already done, I am sure we are all concerned about further damage to come this season.

For those not directly in the path of the fires this may include problems which may occur from smoke taint.

Our thoughts are with those who have already lost property and we offer good wishes to growers, their families and their communities during these tough times.

Sincerely,
Heather Webster, Lisa Bennier, Amy & Sue at WGCSA

In this issue

Tough times
WGCSA Christmas Closure
Fruit fly outbreak declared in Blair Athol
Meet EcoGrower Susie Harris
Australian wine wins with trade trifecta of Peru, Hong Kong and Indonesia FTA
Australian Grape & Wine newsletter
Native plants pledged reaches 7908

WGCSA Christmas Closure

WGCSA will be closed from 24 December until 2 January. Any enquires made during this period will be responded to from the 2nd January onwards.

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Fruit fly outbreak declared in Blair Athol

An outbreak of Mediterranean fruit fly (Med-fly) has been declared in Blair Athol in Adelaide’s inner north, following the detection of larvae in a backyard apricot tree.

A 1.5 km outbreak area and 7.5 km suspension area have been established around the detection point and quarantine restrictions apply to this area.

Suburbs within the quarantine zone include: Blair Athol, Prospect, Broadview, Kilburn, Clearview, Enfield and Gepps Cross.

At this stage, if no further wild flies or larvae are detected it is anticipated that the quarantine will remain in place until at least 9 March 2020.

This outbreak has no impact on the fruit fly free status for the state.

Susie Harris is a grape grower from Wrattonbully and is one of our EcoGrowers. Find out how working as a florist in Mauritius and the Maldives led her to viticulture.

1. Tell us about your experience in grape growing?
My parents planted our vineyard in the 1990s. At this time I was at school and university and then following my dream to be a florist.

My career as a florist took me to London for four years and I then trained florists in resorts in Mauritius and the Maldives. It was in these resorts that my passion for growing plants took hold.

Australian wine wins with trade trifecta of Peru, Hong Kong and Indonesia FTA

Australian Grape & Wine congratulates the Australian Government on its ratification of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Peru, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

The Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement (A-HKFTA) and Peru-Australia Free Trade Agreement (PAFTA) will enter into force on 17 January and 11 February 2020 respectively. The Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) will come into force 60 days after Indonesia formally advises Australia it has ratified the agreement. Following ratification, Australian wine businesses will be able to take advantage of their benefits.

Australian Grape & Wine Chief Executive, Tony Battaglene, said ”The Australian wine sector is extremely supportive of trade liberalisation, and progressing these three FTAs presents a range of direct and indirect opportunities for the sector.”

Learn More

Australian Grape & Wine newsletter

Don't forget! WGCSA members whose principal business is wine grape growing are members of Australian Grape and Wine.

Click the button below to read the latest AGW newsletter. If your principal business is grape growing and you would like to receive the newsletter directly and vote at general meetings, send an email to laura@agw.org.au.

Latest Newsletter

Changes to commercial kangaroo harvesting in SA

The Minister for Environment and Water has approved the South Australian Commercial Kangaroo Management Plan 2020-2024.

Over 500 submissions were provided to the Department for Environment and Water during the three month consultation period.

This plan will guide the ecologically sustainable management of commercially harvested kangaroos in South Australia. It was developed in consultation with conservation and animal welfare groups, land managers, regulatory and peak bodies, the kangaroo industry and the community.

The final plan and a report showing how feedback has shaped the plan can be accessed via the department’s website.

A pledge of 1000 plants from a grape grower in Langhorne Creek has brought us closer to our goal of planting 20,000 native insectary plants in and around vineyards by 2020.

Adelaide Hills is still way out in front of other SA wine regions. If you're doing some planting over the Christmas break, let us know!

Pledge them here: https://www.wgcsa.com.au/pledge-your-plants.html

Pledge your Plants!