Swag of medals for emerging wine varieties
New viticulture spray guide released
Keeping WA free from browsing ant
Plantago field day attracts interest in the Ord
Soil and land investigations continue in Newman
Swag of medals for emerging wine varieties
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) researchers are confident in the future of emerging wine varieties in WA, after taking home wine show medals over three consecutive seasons.
The most recent win at the Geographe Wine Show saw DPIRD awarded 10 medals for emerging variety wines, including gold for the department’s Scheurabe white (Germany) and Saperavi red (Georgia)/Fer (France) blend.
Winemaking meets research
DPIRD has been exploring the potential of emerging varieties under Western Australian conditions since 2012, when the agency partnered with the Western Australian Vine Improvement Association (WAVIA) and WA College of Agriculture Harvey to plant a trial block of emerging wine grape varieties from around the world at the college. The students have worked closely with DPIRD researchers to manage the block to a commercial standard, taking measurements during the growing season whilst learning about viticultural practices.
Since 2017, DPIRD has conducted evaluations of 22 varieties as part of Wine Australia’s Regional Program. A key feature of this work has been the production of small lot wines by DPIRD’s wine and grape research officer Richard Fennessy, based in Bunbury. Over the three years of the trial, Richard has made 47 separate wines, ranging in volume from as little as two bottles to two cases.
Demonstrating new potential
DPIRD produced emerging variety wines to show the wine qualities of the varieties, and to understand which styles best suited them. Styles explored have included dry to sweet, rosè, and light to full bodied wines.
Through the support of the Geographe Wine Show, the wines produced have been expertly assessed each year by the show’s judging panel. This September marked the final lot of wines to be assessed from this work.
The 2019 season was particularly challenging at the Harvey trial site, with the worst bird pressure researchers had seen resulting in around two thirds of the crop being lost. This was compounded by some disease pressure in the remaining crop.
Nevertheless, the 2019 wines were well commended, scoring two gold, four silver and five bronze medals from just 12 entries.
The 2019 results take the total tally to six gold, 10 silver and 22 bronze medals over the three-year trial period.
White varieties that have shown particular promise include Scheurebe (Germany), Harslevelu (Hungary), Arneis (Italy) and Pignoletto (Italy). Of the reds, Saperavi (Georgia), Carmenere (France), Lagrein (Italy), Graciano (Spain), Fer (France) and Montepulciano (Italy) were noteworthy.
Educating WA vignerons
In addition to WIN articles and web pages highlighting this work, DPIRD’s wine team has delivered over a dozen wine industry workshops and tastings across Western Australia’s wine regions, providing producers with information on the viticultural performance of the varieties and, most importantly, the opportunity to taste the wines produced under WA growing conditions.
Although Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Semillon account for 80 per cent of Western Australia’s wine production, changing consumer interests could lead to a greater presence of emerging varieties in WA vineyards over coming years.
For more information on this activity, visit the emerging varieties web page or contact Richard Fennessy, wine and grape research officer, Bunbury on +61 (0)8 9780 6219.
New viticulture spray guide released
The recently released Viticulture Spray Guide provides information to manage pests and diseases in wine and table grape vineyards in Western Australia. It is the only best practice guide for agrochemical use in WA vineyards producing both wine and table grapes.
The production of the 2019/2020 guide was a collaborative effort between the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and external authors to review 500 plus agrochemicals registered for use in WA vineyards, pesticide resistance strategies, biosecurity resources and legislation and regulations associated with pesticide use in vineyards.
Specifically, the topics covered include:
- pesticide safety and regulation
- pesticide application
- pesticide resistance
- biosecurity
- spray options for:
- diseases
- insects, mites and molluscs
- herbicides
- plant growth regulators
- pest monitoring and treatment scheduling.
The guide is free to download from the Viticulture spray guide page or here.
For more information contact Richard Fennessy, wine and grape research officer, Bunbury on +61 (0)8 9780 6219.
Keeping WA free from browsing ant
Surveillance activity for the exotic browsing ant is underway at targeted premises across Western Australia in areas considered at risk.
Browsing ant, Lepisiota frauenfeldi, is an exotic ant species not yet established in Australia that would likely become a significant horticultural, environmental and domestic pest if it were to establish.
With Western Australia’s horticultural industries production valued at more than $1.1 billion per year and employing more than 5600 workers, it is important that exotic species like browsing ant that could threaten our horticultural sector are quickly eradicated to prevent establishment.
Since July, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) surveillance team, made up of Lilli-Mai Rebel, Rob Coupar, Lachlan Petersen and Vaniek Paille, has surveyed 125 properties across the state looking for any evidence of browsing ant.
Sites are considered ‘at risk’ and chosen for surveillance if they have been associated with or are in close proximity to known infested sites, or if they regularly receive overseas freight or cargo such as shipping and airfreight containers, pallets, plant nursery stock or green waste.
Browsing ant has not been discovered at any of the at risk properties surveyed to date.
What is browsing ant?
Browsing ants are a slender, shiny, dark brown ant about 3–4mm in length. They have long antennae and long legs, and run about in a crazy or haphazard manner when disturbed. They do not have a strong 'ant smell' when crushed.
They can gather in large numbers in trees and bushes, eventually killing the plants they live on.
Browsing ant in Australia
Browsing ant was first found in Australia at Perth Airport in 2013. The size and spread of this infestation indicated it had been in place at least five years.
With high volumes of freight and cargo moving from the airport, it was considered highly likely browsing ant could have been accidentally transported to other areas in WA and indeed browsing ants have since been found at three other sites linked to Perth Airport.
Browsing ant has been eradicated from these sites, but surveillance continues to determine if there has been further spread.
There were browsing ant discoveries in Darwin in 2015 and Brisbane in 2019 where they are under eradication.
WA’s browsing ant response
DPIRD’s browsing ant response team is undertaking a two-year, state-wide surveillance and response program. Eradication can only be declared if there has been no evidence of surviving colonies after two years of surveillance.
Program milestones include the surveillance of at least 500 different sites over the two years, treatment of any browsing ants discovered, and two ‘Ant Blitzes’, which will form the passive surveillance component of the program and involve the community submitting reports or specimens.
Treating and eradicating browsing ants
To treat browsing ant, granular baits containing an insect growth regulator designed to sterilise the queens, customised to attract browsing ants, are broadcast across the infested area, followed by a spray treatment two weeks later.
Specially trained browsing ant detector dogs are used during post-treatment surveillance to help determine if the ant has been successfully eradicated.
The dogs can cover substantially more ground in a shorter time than humans searching for ants, and can sniff out a single browsing ant from several metres away.
Report browsing ant
If you suspect you have browsing ants at your property or workplace please report it via the MyPestGuide reporter app (mypestguide.agric.wa.gov.au) or contact the Pest and Disease Information Service on (08) 9368 3080 or padis@dpird.wa.gov.au.
Plantago field day attracts interest in the Ord
Plantago is gaining momentum as a potential new crop for the Ord region, after three years of collaborative research conducted by Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) staff. This was highlighted at a recent field day held at the department’s Frank Wise Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Kununurra.
The field day attracted a group of local growers and other interested industry representatives to review and discuss the progress of research trials conducted in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
DPIRD principal research scientist and project leader Professor David McNeil went through the initial research work in the Ord during the 1980s, current collaborative project activities, and future goals for establishing a successful local plantago industry.
DPIRD research scientist Dr Siva Sivapalan presented information to support the claim of successful adaptation of plantago to the Ord environment and measures for producers to achieve a high-yielding crop.
The plantago trials in 2019 were financially supported by DPIRD and Dr Schär – an Italian based global food manufacturing company which specialises in special nutrition for people, such as gluten-free products.
Plantago seeds are processed to extract psyllium husk which is high in dietary fibre. Psyllium husk is becoming more popular in the food industry as a key ingredient in gluten-free food products.
Silvano Ciani and Ombretta Polenghi from Dr Schär’s Corporate Research and Innovation unit attended the field day events, and presented Dr Schär’s plans to support developing a successful value chain for plantago in the Ord.
Field day participants viewed the variety trials, mutant breeding lines and fertiliser trials, and observed the harvesting process.
Copies of an industry handbook containing detailed information about the trials and key management practices were distributed.
For more information contact Siva Sivapalan, research scientist, Frank Wise Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kununurra on +61 (0)8 9166 4060.
Soil and land investigations continue in Newman
DPIRD researchers currently have their sights on Newman as part of the department’s Transforming Agriculture in the Pilbara (TAP) project to investigate soil and water resources for potential horticulture, fodder and field crop production.
The Newman area has been the focus of recent investigations, with preliminary soil and land surveys being conducted over 135,000 hectares in the Ethel Creek area situated north-east of Mt Newman.
Soil
DPIRD researchers Henry Smolinski and Tim Pope conducted a soil survey of the area last month with initial results indicating the dominant soils are red sandy earths that grade in texture from sand to sandy clay loam (Red Tenosols and Red Kandosols). These soils have a high capability for irrigated agriculture as they are well drained, have a slightly acid to neutral soil pH and are low in salts.
Groundwater
DPIRD researchers Bob Paul and John Simons have conducted a groundwater census in the same area and found good quality water near the southern boundary of the investigation area, close to the Fortescue River and the northern area of Caramulla Creek.
Water samples from bores adjacent to Jimblebar Creek and in the northern boundary of the investigation area were found to be of lower quality and unsuitable for irrigated agriculture. There is a large area south east to the investigation, where there are no bores and, therefore, the water quality in the area is unknown. The depth to groundwater is around 25 metres over most of the investigation area, with the south western corner near the Kalgan River having a shallower water table.
AEM
An Airborne Electromagnetic Survey (AEM) is also being conducted in the Newman area, and will show water quality in the sediments over the investigation area and the depth to bedrock. The AEM water quality data is important because there are large areas of the investigation area with no bores or tracks to access areas with a drilling rig. The depth to bedrock from the AEM means researchers can calculate the saturated thickness of the sediments overlying the bedrock.
Industry involvement
The TAP team is also currently working with CSIRO research partners and BHP to understand the opportunity for storing mine dewater surplus from BHP mines in this investigation area for re-use in irrigated systems.
Once the AEM is complete, CSIRO scientist Mike Donn will work through industry guidelines to appraise the Newman site suitability for Managed Aquifer Recharge, after which a conceptual plan will be developed for water conveyance, storage and reuse.
DPIRD is also working closely with private sector proponents to understand the opportunity to integrate other mine dewater supplies into this conceptual scheme.
For further information contact Chris Schelfhout, project manager, Karratha on +61 (0) 8 9143 7011