Weather News
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the rainfall outlook for the December quarter (October to December) favours wetter than average conditions over large parts of the continent. Visit http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/rain_ahead.shtml for more information and be prepared for greater disease pressure than we have experienced in recent years.
Locust
Growers are reminded that on their property, locust control and reporting is their responsibility. The dot points below outline a ground applied control strategy that targets the ‘hopper’ growth stage. Further details can be found at: https://www.awri.com.au/information_services/ebulletins/2010/08/18/wine-industry-locust-control-strategy/
Strategy
- Monitor for emergence of hoppers and be aware that newly emerged insects are no threat to crops.
- Do not attempt chemical control until hoppers are 6 mm to 10 mm in size and have formed dense bands.
- It is NOT necessary to spray entire vineyards, only spray where and when hoppers have banded together and use undervine or inter-row boom sprays.
- When applying approved insecticide directly onto locusts and adjacent ground cover, drive slowly, keep the boom low and use nozzles that deliver at least a Medium droplet spectrum. Avoid the use of extended range flat fan nozzles. DO NOT SPRAY VINES DIRECTLY.
- Continue to monitor hopper activity. Hopper bands may move from neighbouring areas and additional sprays may be required. When respraying, follow label respray intervals.
- If you must control hoppers in your vineyard after E-L 25, 80% caps off, contact your winery or grape purchaser to discuss control options.
- Only apply chemicals that are registered for use in vines or have permit for the pest. It is important that chemical applicators ensure that products are approved for their crop/situation and if operating off-label under a permit that they obtain a copy and follow all the conditions of those permits.
- Spray records need to be kept even if spray is applied to the ground, headland, vineyard roads or tracks.
- The chemicals used for APL control are very toxic to humans (except metharizium) and full personal protective equipment (PPE) as per label directions should be worn during the spraying operations.
New targets
PARAFFINIC OIL
APVMA 54179
BioPest has been granted registration by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for control of Powdery Mildew in grapevines. BioPest is a Sacoa product. It contains the active constituent paraffinic oil.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 80% capfall (E-L growth stage 25).
New product
SULFUR
APVMA 58337
Dusting Sulphur 900 has been granted registration for use against Powdery Mildew in grapevines by the APVMA. This Redox Pty Ltd product is a Group M2 fungicide with elemental or crystalline sulfur as active constituent.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 30 days before harvest.
Correction to the AWRI’s ‘Dog Book’ Agrochemicals Registered for Use in Australian Viticulture 2010/2011
Page 10 and 16: The product Delfin is listed as containing the active constituent ‘Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies aizawai‘. The subspecies is kurstaki.
Note
‘Sunscreen’ products do not require APVMA registration.
Particle film technology (PFT) includes products based on processed and refined kaolin (Surround®, Screen®) or calcium carbonate crystals (Parasol) and are marketed as an option for heat stress management.
These products are not required to be registered by the APVMA because PFT does not fit the definition of an ‘agricultural chemical product’. They can be used on grapevines despite the fact that grapevines do not appear on the label however, given the nature of the product, residues might be present at harvest, especially in the case of late season applications. It is advised that you contact your winery or grape purchaser prior to application of these products.
This information is provided to inform the Australian grape and wine sector of agrochemical information, and should not be interpreted as an endorsement