Read the latest Ask the AWRI article.
A recent AWRI eBulletin cautioned wine exporters about shipments to the European Union after a change in the residue tolerance for the agrochemical iprodione – the active constituent in some agrochemicals used to control botrytis. It was recommended that wines be residue tested prior to shipment. The AWRl’s Marcel Essling answers some probing questions into the implications of the regulatory changes for this agrochemical.
A consortium of members of the Oenoviti International network of grape and wine research organisations has received a major EU-sponsored grant for international researcher exchange. Thirty-nine grape and wine researchers from the EU will be funded to spend time on sabbatical at either industry organisations in the EU or at relevant research institutions in New World wine-producing companies, thanks to the more than EUR 874,000 grant from the EU.
The Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) in Adelaide has secured a major infrastructure funding boost from a combination of Federal and State Government sources. Bioplatforms Australia, which manages investment funding through the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), together with the South Australian Government and the AWRI will collectively invest $11.1m for metabolomics and associated activities at the AWRI from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2023.
Starting 5 September, the Bureau of Meteorology will showcase a new 7-day frost warning tool and discuss frost risk for the season ahead. The following three webinars address weed control, vineyard mapping and maceration techniques to tailor wine style.
See the full program here.
Each webinar includes a presentation and an opportunity for audience members to ask questions and is usually held on a Thursday at 11:30 am Australian Central Daylight Time (Adelaide, GMT+09:30). All AWRI webinars are free to attend.
The next four webinars for the program are:
5 September 2019: Bureau of Meteorology frost risk outlook and frost warning service – Darren Ray & Naomi Benger (BOM)
19 September 2019: How weeds influence a vineyard – Tony Hoare (AWRI)
26 September 2019: GAIA – a new app to locate vineyards, store information and monitor crop health – Sandy Hathaway (Wine Australia)
3 October 2019: Using maceration techniques to tailor red wine styles – Dr Keren Bindon (AWRI)
System requirements
You will need a computer or mobile device with an internet connection. Audio is connected over the internet using your computer or mobile device’s speakers (Voice over Internet Protocol – VOIP). Participants joining a webinar via a mobile device will need to download a free app available from iTunes or Google Play.
If you’ve missed a previous AWRI webinar, you can watch online via the AWRI’s YouTube channel.
For further information on AWRI webinars, please contact the AWRI information services team.
New withholding period
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has recently approved a new maximum residue limit (MRL) for difenoconazole in grapes and a new label withholding period. The ‘Dog book’ recommendation for difenoconazole (Digger) use on grapes destined for export wine is ‘Use no later than E-L 29, berries pepper-corn size (not > 4 mm diameter)’. The label withholding period is 28 days. It is recommended that you check your winery or grape purchaser’s restriction on use for difenoconazole prior to application.
New formulation and target
POTASSIUM BICARBONATE AND POTASSIUM SILICATE
APVMA 83204
‘EcoCarb Plus’ is an Organic Crop Protectants Pty Ltd product.
‘EcoCarb Plus’ is registered for control of powdery mildew and suppression of downy mildew in grapevines. It is an activity group M2 fungicide.
Recommended restriction on use (withholding period) for grapes destined for export wine: Use no later than 7 days before harvest.
Powdery mildew resistance management strategy
CropLife Australia has updated the resistance management strategy for powdery mildew. The new strategy clarifies the requirements around consecutive applications of Group 7 and 11 fungicides. Group 7 and 11 fungicides should only be applied consecutively when used in a mixture or co-formulated with a registered, alternative mode of action for which resistance is not known. The new strategy can be found on page 19 of the ‘Dog book’ pdf.
Prosper 500 EC re-entry period
The re-entry period for powdery mildew fungicide spiroxamine (Prosper 500 EC) has changed and now includes re-entry periods for certain unprotected work activities in grapevines. Some of these re-entry requirements, where personal protective equipment (PPE) is not worn, are of significant length and need to be considered as part of the planning for post-spraying farming activities.
The revised re-entry period statement on the Prosper label (where PPE is not worn):
For treated grapevines, do not allow entry into treated areas for the following times to conduct the stated activities:
The specific PPE required for workers to undertake these tasks prior to the re-entry periods stipulated is cotton overalls buttoned to the neck and wrist (or equivalent clothing) and gauntlet-length chemical-resistant gloves.
The ‘Dog book’ resources available online including the pdf and search facility have been updated to reflect the changes listed in this eBulletin. The app will be updated on 26 August. Users of agrochemicals are reminded to read and follow all label directions.
For more information, please contact Marcel Essling on 08 8313 6600 or email helpdesk@awri.com.au.
This information is provided to inform the Australian grape and wine sector and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any product.
Read the latest Ask the AWRI article.
During the 1990s, a high number of the microbiological instability issues investigated by the AWRI’s helpdesk were associated with bottled Pinot Noir wines (Bruer et al. 1998). Looking at today’s stats, Pinot Noir wines still represent a significant proportion of the microbiological spoilage issues submitted to the helpdesk. In this article Adrian Coulter presents answers to common questions about microbial spoilage in Pinot Noir.
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Read the latest Ask the AWRI article.
Each year the AWRI helpdesk receives queries about weed control strategies for vineyards and if there are effective alternatives to herbicides. Senior viticulturist at the AWRI Tony Hoare presents some the options available and provides hints for selecting the most suitable weed control for different situations.
Australian grapegrowing and wine production is going from strength to strength, with the official launch this evening of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, Australia’s national sustainability program for the grape and wine sector.
Nominations are sought for three levy payer-elected Director positions on the AWRI Board, which will become vacant on 31 December 2019. The AWRI’s Constitution provides that there will be not less than seven nor more than 11 Directors. Six of those directors are nominated and/or elected by organisations that pay the Wine Grapes Levy. Nominations close on Friday, 2 August 2019 at 5:00 pm.
Levy payers in the small (<2,000 tonnes), medium (2,001-50,000 tonnes) and large (50,001+ tonnes) producer categories are called on to nominate suitably qualified candidates for the vacant positions.
This is an excellent opportunity for an interested candidate to become involved in the Australian wine industry’s own R&D organisation and, in addition to their other duties and responsibilities, provide a ‘coalface’ perspective to the direction and priorities of the AWRI’s research, development, extension and commercialisation activities.
In the event that more than one nomination is received for a particular category, an election will be held. Levy payers in that particular category will have the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidate. If an election is necessary, it will be held in August/September 2019 and further information will be published at the time.
Successful candidates will take office on 1 January 2020 for a term of three years.
All Wine Grapes Levy payers will be sent an explanatory letter and nomination form by email in the week beginning 8 July 2019. Nominations close on Friday, 2 August 2019 at 5:00 pm. Nomination forms and further information on the AWRI Board and the nomination/election process can be found on the AWRI website.
