A national participative mechanism to enhance vineyard sustainability

The aim of this project is to accelerate the adoption of sustainable vineyard practices through improved information exchange between regions and with researchers.

Strategies to achieve this aim include: establishing a national network of regionally based action groups comprising growers, winemakers, consultants, training and service providers; increasing awareness of current CRCV research and recently developed technologies; encouraging the prioritisation of regional viticultural issues and enabling communications across regions of the evaluation and testing of new methods.

Project Update

During the past year the Viticare network grew to 25 groups based around Australia, representing about 300 participants. These Viticare groups were made up of existing grape growers, extension staff, service providers, wine makers and agency programs.

An example of effective use of links between groups has been the sharing of information on rust mite management between the Hunter Valley, Tumbarumba and the Grampians. This includes links with on-farm trials in each district. This has meant reduction of duplication through the sharing of information, resources and insights.

In addition to these Viticare network groups, contact was also established with other agency networks or existing programs to further broaden the scope of this project. These included:

• the CRCV Research to Practice workshop series,
• the GrapeCheque program conducted by the Victorian Department of Primary Resources (formerly Victorian Department of Natural Resources)
• the CRCV On Farm Trials project
• the CRCV Environmental Management Systems project

The monthly Viticare newsletter has provided a means of sharing information, ideas, On Farm Trial results and local activities. The newsletter has been sent to the groups electronically as a Word document each month, allowing the groups to cut and paste any of the articles to use in their association newsletters or on their websites. The newsletter has also provided a source of information about field days, relevant extension activities and international updates.

Information packs consisting of PowerPoint presentations and handout materials were used to raise awareness of CRCV research. Grouped into 13 topics, these were used for presentation to grower groups. One of these presentations, prioritisation of regional viticultural issues, assisted groups to prioritise their regional issues, identify the relevant researchers, scientists and projects and provide direction to investigate conducting relevant On Farm Trials in their regions. It also assisted people identify the ways to validate latest research outcomes and adapt these to local conditions.

Participatory On Farm Trials for Sustainable Viticulture

The project involves 40 growers with 50 trials established across eight regions of Australia (see Industry Contribution). Growers are addressing issues of vine growth, pest and disease occurrence, fruit quantity and quality and natural resource impacts. The continuation of 2001-2002 research can be separated into four key areas:

1. Validate trials and measurement techniques: New (2001-2002) trials have been implemented and continued (2000-2002) trials are working on validating research results in this second 2001-2002 trial season.

2. Trials: The majority of growers (ca. 30) have continued with their existing trials and a number of new growers (ca. 10) have been recruited to take up On Farm Trials on their properties. Statistical support has been given to growers and the results discussed in detail with participants in each region.

3. Variability: In each region, two sites were established to assess vineyard block variability. Resulting data shows high variation in yield and lower variation in quality parameters such as °Brix and pH. Data has been analysed intensively and compiled in a draft report to the Viticare Reference Group and growers.

4. Participatory: Continued evaluation has assisted in gaining an understanding of how much growers want to be involved. Participants to date have indicated that they value the benefits of education and training to set up their own trials.

Time and cost constraints that limit OFT participants are also being tackled. Strategies to overcome these constraints within the limitations of the project objectives and budget are being developed.

Activities to disseminate information have included formal presentations to industry groups and articles in industry journals and newsletters such as the Viticare and CRCV newsletters.
OFT are working to fit in with the Research to Practice scheme and an evaluation of the necessity of more promotion and marketing activities to promote OFT is currently being undertaken. A short presentation for each of the Research to Practice workshops has been prepared and revised with a view to delivery on the third day of many of these workshops.

The On Farm Trial draft manual is being refined by the chapter authors for growers who are commencing On Farm Trials and who require initial support. The manual covers trial design and variability, trials in progress, how to carry out assessments (including assessment sheets) and background information on each parameter measured.

A workshop/project meeting has been organised to bring together the facilitators of each region to discuss issues and progress. A visit to Queensland has been organised to benchmark our OFT research trials to the earlier DOOR (do our own research) programs.

Project Update

• Production of draft On Farm Trials (OFT) Manual: designed for growers and facilitators to provide information on conducting participatory trials that give meaningful results. The draft OFT manual contains information on understanding trial design and variability, various topics including improving soils, pests and diseases, canopy management and others, and measurement and sampling techniques
• Development of measurement and sampling protocols, to be released as Viti-Notes.
• Success of participatory process: An evaluation carried out at the end of the 3-year duration project showed that 44% of 64 participants were able to make an informed decision based on the results of their experiments. Another 36% of growers were committed to continuing their experiments in order to get conclusive results. The remaining 20% of growers discontinued with OFT after 1 or 2 years of either inconclusive results or problems with their experiments. These problems included a change of vineyard management priorities and unforeseen personal reasons. Participants agreed that trialing technology on a small part of the vineyard before applying it to the whole vineyard is extremely important. Overall 92% of respondents agreed that OFT are an effective means for trialing new technologies in vineyards. After three years of trialing, 68% of respondents agreed that trialing new technology on a small part of the vineyard before applying it to the whole vineyard is extremely important. Fifty-six percent of respondents agreed that OFT are effective in trialing new technologies and 36% agreed that OFT are very effective in trialing new technologies.
• Up to 20 regional workshops were held overall to disseminate trial results and information. Both participants and facilitators contributed articles to the Viticare Newsletter (monthly) giving regional updates and trial results (>50 articles submitted overall). A number of topical seminars and grower talks were held, some in conjunction with Grapecheque groups. Field walks were conducted on participating growers' properties to view and discuss OFT sites. Workshops were based on: Introducing OFT, disseminating trial results, understanding variability within the vineyard and the use of different trial designs, and understanding the process of participatory OFT. Workshops based around 'Trial Design and Variability' were piloted with viticulture students at Swinburne TAFE, Victoria and with Yalumba Wines in South Australia.