The Australian Wine Research Institute

The Australian Wine Research Institute Blog

Agrochemical update June 2007

9 June 2007 >

The AWRI publication Agrochemicals registered for use in Australian viticulture 2007/2008 is now available.

Major changes in the 2007/2008 Dog Book

NEW ACTIVES

APVMA 55736

Green Guard SC Biological Insecticide is a Becker Underwood product containing Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum spores. Green Guard SC is registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for the control of nymphs of the Australian plague locust, wingless grasshopper and pest grasshoppers in agricultural areas, pastures, crops, forage crops and non-crop areas. The APVMA has recently confirmed that crops is considered to include vineyards for this particular product.

Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 7 days prior to harvest (temporary).

APVMA 53738

Py Bo insecticide is registered by the APVMA for the control of aphids, ants, cabbage moth and other caterpillars, earwigs, leafhoppers, thrips and whiteflies in fruit and vegetable crops. Grapevines are considered as a fruit crop therefore, this product can be used on grapevines.

Py Bo is a Pestech Australia product. It contains two active constituents: pyrethrins (Group 3A) and piperonyl butoxide (benzodioxile). Piperonyl butoxide restricts an enzyme that insects use to detoxify the pyrethrins which allows the insecticide to be more effective.

Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 80% capfall.

APVMA 60504

The herbicide active Glyphosate MEA is a new form of glyphosate (MEA = monoethanolamine salt).

SOME NEW PRODUCTS

APVMA 60541

Microsul WG Elite has been granted registration by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for the control of vine mites, grape leaf blister mite, powdery mildew and mites on grapevines.
Microsul WG Elite is a Melpat product. It contains the active constituent sulphur which is a Group Y fungicide/miticide.

Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 30 days before harvest.

Note: The use of generic terms such as mites and vine mites on many of the sulphur products registered for use in viticulture, encompasses all mites that are found on grapevines.

APVMA 52546

Avatar has been granted registration by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority for the control of Garden Weevil and Grapevine Moth on grapevines (wine grapes only). Avatar previously only had a registration for LBAM.

Avatar is a DuPont product. It contains the active constituent indoxacarb which is a group 22A insecticide.

Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than E-L 31 (before bunch closure), but do not use later than 8 weeks before harvest.

Correction to the copper oxychloride entry: The 2007/2008 Dog Book lists Copper Oxychloride WG under the copper oxychloride active as one of the products. Copper Oxychloride WG should be removed as it is a WP formulation.

PERMITS

AWRI: Permit 7810

Permit 7910 which is currently issued by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, allows the use of Sumi-Alpha Flex (50g/L esfenvalerate) and Sumi-Alpha 19EC (19 g/L esfenvalerate) for the control of garden weevil on grapevines. This permit expires on 30 June 2007.

RESTISTANCE MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES

The CropLife resistance management strategy for Grey Mould (Bunch Rot) has been revised and is now much clearer.

EXPORT MARKET MRLs

The fungicide Domark 40ME which contains the active constituent tetraconazole was registered for use on grapevines by the APVMA in 2006. The APVMA proposed MRL is 0.5 mg/kg. However, this has not been gazetted in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Therefore, until this is gazetted no detectable residue of tetraconazole is allowed in Australian wine.

Other agrochemical issues

OTHER PRODUCTS

APVMA 53696

Hammer herbicide has been granted registration by the APVMA for the control of unwanted suckers (water shoots) arising from the main stem or trunk of grapevines. Hammer is distributed by Crop Care. It contains the active constituent carfentrazone-ethyl which is a Group G herbicide.

Surround does not require APVMA registration.

Due to the recent hot and dry season, the use of products such as Surround were being considered as a way of reducing leaf temperatures relative to ambient temperatures.
Surround as a protectant against sunburn and heat stress. is not required to be registered by the APVMA and there is no State or Territory legislation regulating its use. The registration process is governed by Commonwealth legislation. The agricultural chemical products that require registration encompasses all herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and growth regulators. It does not include products such as Surround because they do not fit the definition of an agricultural chemical product (For more information on this definition go to http://www.apvma.gov.au/registration/chemreg.shtml). Therefore, Surround can be used on grapevines despite the fact that grapevines do not appear on the label. Given the nature of the product, residues might be present at harvest, especially in the case of late season applications. We do not know if this will have any impact on the winemaking process and final wine quality. It is advised that you contact your winery or grape purchaser prior to application of this product.

CHEMICAL REVIEWS

Carbaryl
The final APVMA review has proposed that grapes be removed from the label of products currently containing carbaryl. The only use remaining for carbaryl on grapevines is for control of cutworms by application to the vine base (i.e. butt spray only).

Carbaryl is currently registered for use in viticulture against grape leaf blister mite, grapevine hawk moth, grapevine moth, LBAM, cutworm, mealybug and scale.

Methomyl
After a review by the APVMA, methomyl (Electra, Marlin, Lannate and Nudrin) is no longer registered for use on horticultural crops grown in protected cropping situations (glasshouse, greenhouse, shade houses etc.)

Carbendazim
The APVMA has announced a review of carbendazim is to take place for the same reason that benomyl was reviewed i.e. the potential to cause impairment of reproduction and development in laboratory rats may be relevant to human exposure.

For more information on these reviews go to http://www.apvma.gov.au/chemrev/chemrev.shtml

This information is provided to inform the wine industry of agrochemical product information, and should not be interpreted as an endorsement.

AWRI launches Online Image Collection

14 March 2007 >

On 14 March, The Australian Wine Research Institute launched its online image collection. The collection is a searchable database of downloadable industry images, available from the AWRI website, in a variety of formats.

Access to these industry images has been made possible through the collaboration with professionals working within the industry. The project is funded by Australias grapegrowers and winemakers through their investment body, the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation, with matching funding from the Australian government. Users of this facility will contribute to the ongoing costs to maintain and expand the collection.

AWRIs Group Manager Communication and Information Services, Rae Blair, said The collection of images, some of which are nearly 60 years old, range from wine microorganisms to grape harvesting technology, and will be a useful resource for students, academics, researchers and industry members.

Rae Blair acknowledged the valuable contribution of slides and photographs by Dr Peter May (formerly CSIRO), Dr Bryce Rankine (formerly AWRI) and Dr Bryan Coombe (formerly University of Adelaide), These three gentlemen were committed to this project from the start, she said They were determined that these images not be lost to industry members and researchers. They contributed enormous hours to catalogue the images that they had gathered over the years during their careers.

The images supplied by these esteemed researchers are supplemented with the AWRIs own images collected since 1955. Ongoing contributions from CSIRO, as well as other organisations and individuals, will continue to expand the collection, maintaining value for users into the future.

A collection of more than 3,000 images is currently accessible via the AWRI website: http://www.awri.com.au

Application to become a Registered User can be made via the AWRI website. Registered Users can search and download from the database, and will find image files suitable for all graphics purposes.

For more information on the range of information services available from The Australian Wine Research Institute visit the website: http://www.awri.com.au, or contact AWRI staff at email: library@awri.com.au

(You can download a copy of this media release here)

Wine industry benefits from $0.5 m state government grant

14 February 2007 >

The Australian Wine Research Institute was delighted to announce its application to the South Australian state governments Premiers Science Research Fund was successful. The AWRI, which submitted the application on behalf of the Wine Innovation Cluster, will be awarded a $533,745 grant over three years to significantly develop its yeast research program.

Wine yeast does not just act as a fermenting agent in wine production; it plays a critical role in creating the flavour and aroma of wine, and a choice of wine yeast strains allows winemakers to predictably create wine with desirable sensory properties for specific target markets.

Managing Director, Professor Sakkie Pretorius, said the grant will enable us to purchase a new set of four bioreactors and a high-throughput fermentation instrument, required to develop new yeast strains. He said, This grant will boost our research program and allow the AWRI and its collaborators to rapidly and simultaneously characterise new yeast strains.

AWRI Business Development Manager, Dr Dan Johnson, said This grant will enable AWRI to create a fully-integrated discovery platform for the development of novel wine yeast strains. AWRI has a good track record in this area, and will now be able to generate many more leads for downstream development. He said the grant was also a reflection of the capability of the Wine Innovation Cluster to work across the grape and wine value chain and produce meaningful outputs for industry.

Specific targets of the AWRI yeast research program are to produce yeast strains that: (i) produce lower alcohol wine, (ii) extract/produce more flavour and aroma compounds and (iii) can complete ferments under significant environmental stress.

Further information:
Dan Johnson
Business Development Manager
Tel: 08 8303 6600
Email: dan.johnson@awri.com.au

Rae Blair
Group Manager Communication and Information Services
Tel: 08 8303 6838
Email: rae.blair@awri.com.au

More information on AWRIs activities can be found on our website: http://www.awri.com.au

(You can download a copy of this media release here)

Agrochemical update December 2006

18 December 2006 >

APVMA 60541

Microsul WG Elite has been granted registration by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for the control of vine mites, grape leaf blister mite, powdery mildew and mites on grapevines.
Microsul WG Elite is a Melpat product. It contains the active constituent sulphur which is a Group Y fungicide/miticide.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 30 days before harvest.

Note: The use of generic terms such as mites and vine mites on many of the sulphur products registered for use in viticulture, encompasses all mites that are found on grapevines.

APVMA 53738

Py Bo insecticide is registered by the APVMA for the control of aphids, ants, cabbage moth and other caterpillars, earwigs, leafhoppers, thrips and whiteflies in fruit and vegetable crops. Grapevines are considered as a fruit crop therefore, this product can be used on grapevines.
Py Bo is a Pestech Australia product. It contains two active constituents: pyrethrins (Group 3A) and piperonyl butoxide (benzodioxile). Piperonyl butoxide restricts an enzyme that insects use to detoxify the pyrethrins which allows the insecticide to be more effective.

Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 80% capfall.

APVMA 53696

Hammer herbicide has been granted registration by the APVMA for the control of unwanted suckers (water shoots) arising from the main stem or trunk of grapevines.
Hammer is distributed by Crop Care. It contains the active constituent carfentrazone-ethyl which is a Group G herbicide.

Surround does not require APVMA registration.

Due to the recent hot spell and with more high temperature events to come, the use of products such as Surround are being considered as a way of reducing leaf temperatures relative to ambient temperatures.
Surround as a protectant against sunburn and heat stress is not required to be registered by the APVMA and there is no State or Territory legislation regulating its use. The registration process is governed by Commonwealth legislation. The agricultural chemical products that require registration encompasses all herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and growth regulators. It does not include products such as Surround because they do not fit the definition of an agricultural chemical product (For more information on this definition go to http://www.apvma.gov.au/registration/chemreg.shtml). Therefore, Surround can be used on grapevines despite the fact that grapevines do not appear on the label. Given the nature of the product, residues might be present at harvest, especially in the case of late season applications. We do not know if this will have any impact on the winemaking process and final wine quality. It is advised that you contact your winery or grape purchaser prior to application of this product.

This information is provided to inform the wine industry of agrochemical product information, and should not be interpreted as an endorsement.

World-leading science enhanced to the benefit of the Australian wine industry

1 December 2006 >

Capabilities of Australian researchers to deliver benefits to the Australian wine industry were boosted with the announced funding of $2 million for the South Australian node of Metabolomics Australia, based at The Australian Wine Research Institute and utilized collaboratively within the Wine Innovation Cluster (WIC).

The Australian federal government has committed a total of $9.5 million from the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) to Metabolomics Australia. This funding will be shared between the nodes in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. The South Australian State Government contributed a further $0.8 million to the South Australian node bringing the total funding of this node to $2 million.

How can this benefit the Australian wine industry and what is ‘metabolomics’?

Managing Director of The Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI), Professor Sakkie Pretorius, explains, “As ‘proteomics’ is the study of an organism’s proteins and ‘genetics’ is the study of an organism’s genes, ‘metabolomics’ is the study of the total interactions and contributions of an organism’s metabolites. In the winemaking process, metabolites play a crucial role in delivering the complex flavours and aromas in wine fermented from less complex grape juice: wine is the combined product of the grape and yeast metabolomes. An understanding of how the metabolites work in this process, allows winemakers to more effectively produce wines to appeal to target markets. More effective market penetration contributes to the industry’s sustainability.”

Dr Paul Chambers, Principal Research Molecular Biologist, AWRI, and a member of the Bid team, commented on the wider community benefits of supporting this capability, “Apart from allowing the development of improved microbial strains and microbial-driven industrial processes, this funding will enable the building of a foundation of knowledge for the development of ‘Systems Biology’ in higher organisms such as human beings.” He explained, “There is currently a lack of metabolomic technology available to Australian scientists and industry, and microbial systems (especially yeast) are at the forefront of current systems level research. For example, we know that 60% of the common wine yeast’s genes have an identifiable homologue in humans, and human proteins expressed in yeast can be used to determine protein function which has direct relevance to research in human diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.”

Dr Dan Johnson, Business Development Manager, AWRI, and also member of the Bid team explains further, “Both ‘metabolomics’ and ‘systems biology’ are internationally regarded as frontiers in biological research, and the Australian wine industry will now be a key beneficiary. Examples of major projects to be undertaken by the WIC partners using this metabolomics capability include the resolution of two major issues facing the Australian wine industry:

  1. Determining the origin and physiological processes underpinning production of key flavour and aroma compounds in wine, and the development of methods to ensure that these flavours can be tailored in wines designed to meet specific consumer requirements; and
  2. The screening, isolation and development of ‘low alcohol’ yeasts to enable the production of low alcohol wines.”

For more information contact:
Sakkie Pretorius, Managing Director, The Australian Wine Research Institute
Tel: 08 8303 6600
Or
Rae Blair, Group Manager – Communication and Information Services, The Australian Wine Research Institute Tel: 08 8303 6838

(You can download a copy of this media release here)

Wine future is assisted by investment agreement

7 November 2006 >

Australia’s leadership in wine science has been boosted by a seven year investment agreement between the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation (GWRDC) and The Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI).

The focus of this agreement is to provide the AWRI and the GWRDC with the flexibility to operate in these rapidly changing times so that outcomes of value to Australian grapegrowers and winemakers, and the Australian community can be optimised. In this way, industry targets and national research priorities will be met in a timely and efficient manner.

The seven-year agreement will see about $65 million of industry R&D levies and Australian Government matching funds directed towards outcomes that will benefit industry located all over regional Australia. These outcomes include a greater understanding of what contributes to styles of wine preferred by different market segments, the capacity to eliminate faults, and new technologies to enhance Australias competitiveness and reputation as a reliable supplier of high quality wine.

AWRIs Managing Director, Professor Sakkie Pretorius, said the organisation, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, now employed more than 80 people and enjoyed an international reputation in wine science. “In taking a long term outlook, the AWRI has built on its reputation by firstly developing a Business Plan (Towards 2015), and we have complemented this with a Seven-Year Research, Development and Extension Plan. This provided the GWRDC and the AWRI with a strong basis for the research agreement, and guidance to other parties who might co-invest or collaborate with the AWRI.”

The timing of this agreement is important to all stakeholders as it will underpin performance expectations that will contribute to the next GWRDC Five Year R&D Plan. This is being developed currently to commence in July 2007.

GWRDC Executive Director Dr Jim Fortune said that “it is great to see the industry engagement with the opportunities presented by strong R&D and extension activities at a time when commercial pressures are pretty tough. It is a sign of the maturity and strength of grapegrowers and winemakers that they see continued innovation as key to their future success in domestic and global markets.”

Dr Fortune went on to say that the work done by the Strategic Directions Group (developed and supported by the Winemakers Federation of Australia, Wine Grape Growers Australia and the GWRDC) and its recently published Prospectus Investing in Innovation has provided a focus for what might be achievable for the grape and wine industry from R&D along the value chain. “This is not just about giving directions, but also extending an invitation to those who might see further opportunities for R&D investment in the wine industry.

The GWRDC will work closely with the AWRI and all other providers of R&D to ensure that where possible the collaborative efforts that have driven Australian grapegrowers and winemakers are reflected throughout the full research portfolio.”

Professor Pretorius commented on the benefits of the Agreement by saying, “Research agreements such as this give major providers of R&D confidence to plan their activities and commit to projects that are demanding on resources and might be of long term nature. We have set ambitious targets to benefit the Australian wine industry, and we look forward to working with the GWRDC to deliver these outcomes.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Ms Sussan Ley said that an improved understanding of the market and long term investment in innovation will build on the wine industry’s strengths, enabling it to meet current and future challenges.

“I congratulate The Australian Wine Research Institute and the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation for reaching this agreement, not least for the role it will play in ensuring the future of the industry.”

Further information can be obtained by contacting:

Professor Sakkie Pretorius, Managing Director
Tel: 08 8303 6610
or
Rae Blair, Group Manager, Communication and Information Services
Tel: 08 8303 6838; email:

(You can download a copy of this media release here)

Agrochemical update August 2006

1 August 2006 >

Biological control of locusts and grasshoppers using the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae

APVMA 55736
Green Guard SC Biological Insecticide is a Becker Underwood product containing Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum spores. Green Guard SC is registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for the control of nymphs of the Australian plague locust, Wingless grasshopper and pest grasshoppers in agricultural areas, pastures, crops, forage crops and non-crop areas. The APVMA has recently confirmed that crops is considered to include vineyards for this particular product.

How it works
The spores either land on the locusts and grasshoppers, direct from the spray, or are picked up as they move around feeding on sprayed vegetation. The fungal spores that attach to the insect germinate and the hyphae that emerges penetrates the cuticle (the outer skeleton of the insect). The fungus then develops inside the body eventually killing the insect.

Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 7 days prior to harvest (temporary).

The reason for a temporary recommended restriction on use
Although it is unlikely that Green Guard SC will be required late in the season, fermentation studies will be conducted in the 2006/2007 vintage to ensure that a seven day withholding period will have no detrimental effects on fermentation. Typically biological preparations such as this are exempt from the requirement of a tolerance. However, this has yet to be confirmed with Australias major wine export markets.

This information is provided to inform the wine industry of agrochemical product information, and should not be interpreted as an endorsement.

Agrochemical update July 2006

6 July 2006 >

Major changes in the 2006/2007 Dog Book

New actives

APVMA: 51547
Applaud insecticide has been granted registration by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for the control of Longtail mealybug and Tuber mealybug on grapevines.
Applaud is a Dow Agrosciences product containing the active constituent buprofezin. Buprofezin is a Group 17A insecticide.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 80% capfall.

APVMA: 60284
Regent insecticide has been granted registration by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for the control of Fig longicorn on grapevines.
Regent is a Nufarm product containing the active constituent fipronil. Fipronil is a Group 2C insecticide.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Dormant spray only.

APVMA: 56697
Domark 40ME fungicide has been granted registration by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for the control of Powdery Mildew on grapevines.
Domark 40ME is a Sipcam product containing the active constituent tetraconazole. Tetraconazole is a Group C (DMI) fungicide.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 80% capfall.

APVMA: 47333
Gallery 750 herbicide is a Dow Agrosciences product containing the active constituent isoxaben. Isoxaben is a Group K residual herbicide.

Previously registered actives re-introduced

APVMA: 48892
Galben M is a Sipcam fungicide containing the active constituents benalaxyl (Group D) and mancozeb (Group Y). Galben M has a registration for the control of Downy Mildew and Black Spot on grapevines.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 80% capfall.

APVMA: 58704
Rebound is a Kiwi Rural Trading fungicide containing the active constituents oxadixyl (Group D) and mancozeb (Group Y). Rebound has a registration for the control of Downy Mildew on grapevines.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 80% capfall.

Some other product changes

APVMA: 50722
Liquicop copper fungicide currently has a registration for the control of Downy Mildew on grapevines. This registration has been expanded so that Liquicop has now been granted registration by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for the control of Powdery Mildew on grapevines.
Liquicop is an Ekko product containing the active constituent copper ammonium acetate. Copper ammonium acetate is a Group Y fungicide.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 30 days before harvest.

APVMA: 51217
Farmoz Axiom MZ 720 fungicide has been granted registration by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority for the control of Downy Mildew on grapevines.
Farmoz Axiom MZ 720 contains two active constituents: mancozeb (Group Y) and metalaxyl (Group D).
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 30 days before harvest.

Garden Weevil Permits

APVMA: Permit 8671
Permit 8671 has been issued by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority which allows the use of Dominex 100 EC and other registered products containing 100g/L alpha-cypermethrin as their only active constituent, as a butt drench for the control of Garden Weevil in South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania and Blackvine weevil in Tasmania. This permit is in force from October 14 2005 to June 30 2010.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 80% capfall.

APVMA: Permit 8720
Permit 8720 has been issued by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority which allows the use of Avatar for the control of Garden Weevil on grapevines (wine grapes only). This permit is in force from 22 December 2005 to 31 December 2006.
Avatar is a Dupont product. It contains the active constituent indoxacarb which is a group 22A insecticide.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than E-L 31 (before bunch closure), but do not use later than 8 weeks before harvest.

Insecticides: Restrictions on use

Paragraph 3 on page 10 of the booklet outlines the recommended restrictions on use for all 1A, 1B, 2B and 3A insecticides. The restriction on use is: Use no later than 80% capfall. It is also recommended that you contact your winery/grape purchaser prior to the use of any insecticides.
The only exception is for 3A products containing the active constituent bifenthrin which is only for use during dormancy.
You will also notice that no 1A, 1B, 2B or 3A insecticides appear in the Recommendations section of the booklet (Page 4-9). The only exception is those actives under permit for garden weevil control and those for control of grapevine scale which are recommended for use during dormancy only.
The Recommendations section of the booklet is intended to reflect preferred actives for each pest or disease listed. As softer option insecticides are available the 1A, 1B, 2B and 3A insecticides have been removed. However, products containing these actives still have a registration for some of the pests listed and therefore, are listed under Agrochemicals registered for use in Australian viticulture (page 12-13).

This information is provided to inform the wine industry of agrochemical product information, and should not be interpreted as an endorsement.

AWRI Board is complemented with legal expertise from Foster’s

16 March 2006 >

AWRI Managing Director, Professor Sakkie Pretorius, announced the appointment to the AWRI Board of Mr Paul Conroy, Legal Affairs Director for Foster’s Group. “I am pleased to announce that Paul Conroy has accepted the AWRI Board’s nomination to join them as a ‘Special Qualifications Director’. Paul’s skills, expertise and passion for the industry will be an invaluable asset to the Australian wine industry’s own R&D organisation.”

Paul has had a successful legal career in a leading Australian law firm and had practiced as a corporate lawyer on the firm’s behalf in Australia, Asia and the UK. Following this, Paul has successfully operated in both senior legal and management roles reporting to the CEO in two significant Australian public companies. He has a deep understanding of the legal, corporate governance and change management issues that an international business faces, as well as proven experience at achieving practical results with management.

“The AWRI Board is currently in the process of finalising the appointment of its second ‘Special Qualifications Director’, which should be completed in the next couple of months,” said Professor Pretorius. “We are delighted that Paul has accepted the Board’s nomination, and I am personally looking forward to working with him, and to his contribution to the Australian wine industry in this capacity.”

The AWRI Board comprises some of Australia’s most well respected industry members as well as a representative from The University of Adelaide. The members are:

Jim Brayne (McWilliam’s Wines)
Paul Conroy (Foster’s Group)
Peter Dawson (Hardy Wine Company)
Robin Day (Domain Day)
Tim James (Wirra Wirra)
Geoff Linton (Yalumba Wines)
Stephen Millar (Constellation Wines)
Sakkie Pretorius (Managing Director, AWRI, ex officio)
Steve Tyerman (The University of Adelaide)

Further information: Sakkie Pretorius, Managing Director tel: 08 8303 6610.

Agrochemical update February 2006

9 February 2006 >

APVMA: Downy Mildew Permit expired

Permit 8940 was issued by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority which allowed the use of Farmoz Axiom MZ 720 for the control of Downy Mildew on grapevines. This permit expired on the 31 December 2005.

APVMA: 51217

Farmoz Axiom MZ 720 has been granted registration by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority for the control of Downy Mildew on grapevines.

Farmoz Axiom MZ 720 contains two active constituents: mancozeb (Group Y) and metalaxyl (Group D).

Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 30 days before harvest.

APVMA: 52531

Cuprofix Disperss is currently registered for the control of Downy Mildew on grapevines. The label rate has been reduced for vines. The dilute spay rate is now 250 400 g per 100L.

APVMA: Permit 8720

Permit 8720 has been issued by the Australian pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority which allows the use of Avatar for the control of Garden Weevil on grapevines (wine grapes only). This permit is in force from 22 December 2005 to 31 December 2006.

Avatar is a Dupont product. It contains the active constituent indoxacarb which is a group 22A insecticide. For further conditions of use view the permit via the link above.

Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than E-L 31 (before bunch closure), but do not use later than 8 weeks before harvest.

This information is provided to inform the wine industry of agrochemical product information, and should not be interpreted as an endorsement.