Neglected Vineyards
September 2010
Neglected Vineyards
ƒ What constitutes a neglected vineyard?
ƒ What causes neglect?
ƒ What is the best way to address the neglect?
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ƒ What constitutes a neglected vineyard?
ƒ A vineyard that is unmanaged or poorly managed in such a way
that it presents a pest or disease risk to other commercial
vineyards.
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ƒ What causes neglect?
ƒ Economics – no longer viable
ƒ Absentee owners
ƒ Loss of interest
ƒ Competing land values
ƒ Family disputes
ƒ Generational change
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ƒ What is the best way to address the neglect?
ƒ Cooperation / agreement to manage to industry standards.
ƒ Legislative compliance.
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PROCESS
REPORT OF NEGLECTED VINEYARD
ƒ Report received from Industry body (Wine Industry Assoc, Table
Grape Assoc, etc)
ƒ Targeted surveillance by DAFWA
ƒ Random survey
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PROCESS
VINEYARD ASSESSMENT
ƒ DAFWA Officer inspects vineyard to determine whether vineyard
presents pest and disease risk.
ƒ May request further assessment from Horticulture Development
Officer / Pathologist.
ƒ Determine overall result of inspection (ie. remedial action required)
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PROCESS
VINEYARD MANAGEMENT PLAN
ƒ Provide landowner with information, management standards, Plant
Disease Act extract.
ƒ Advise that removal is an option.
ƒ Vineyard management plan agreed and in place within 15 working
days.
ƒ If vine removal agreed, completion date set (commitment in writing
within 10 working days). Interim management plan in place to
address pest & disease issues.
ƒ Advise non compliance with agreed plan or non agreement may
result in vineyard removal under Plant Disease Act (Section 22)
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PROCESS
ƒ NON COMPLIANCE
ƒ Where landowner fails to comply with:
ƒ an agreed work program
ƒ an approved management plan, or
ƒ where no agreement can be reached.
ƒ Landowner interviewed and advised that a destruction order be
sought.
ƒ Recommendation to Minister that vineyard be removed.
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PROCESS
DESTRUCTION ORDER
ƒ Minister issues removal / destruction order
ƒ Landowner has right of appeal to State Administrative Tribunal
(SAT).
ƒ SAT reviews case and may uphold, dismiss or vary vineyard
destruction order.
VINEYARD MANAGED / REMOVED
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MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL
ƒ Pests and diseases must be controlled in the vineyard as required.
Control methods should follow industry standards (including those
for Organic Production where relevant)
ƒ Pest and Disease control records (chemical and other methods)
must be kept.
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MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
REMOVAL OF FRUIT
ƒ Removal of grape bunches to minimise development and spread of
disease.
ƒ Fruit can be dropped onto ground and mulched.
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MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
PLANT HEALTH
ƒ Dead vines or vines diseased or damaged beyond rehabilitation are
to be removed and destroyed.
WEED CONTROL
ƒ Weed control is required to discourage spread of pest, disease and
weed seeds. Also assists easy movement of equipment.
ƒ The industry standard practice is to maintain a weed free area
under-vine. Organic properties may practice mulching as weed
control.
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MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
VINE MANAGEMENT
ƒ Plants must be pruned to maintain canopy and facilitate spray
management. Vine prunings can be dropped onto the ground and
mulched.
IRRIGATION
ƒ To sustain plant health regular irrigation must be applied as
required.
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MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
FERTILISER APPLICATION (NUTRITION)
ƒ To maintain healthy plant growth regular fertiliser (organic and non
organic) should be applied based on industry standards.
RECORDS
ƒ Regular record must be kept of all of the above management
practices, which will be made available for review by DAFWA staff
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SUMMARY
ƒ Process is in place to manage neglected vineyards through
improved management or removal.
ƒ Industry must assist DAFWA in reporting neglected vineyards
through representative organisations.
ƒ Natural justice must apply.
ƒ Landowners must be given the opportunity to carry out remedial
action to bring the vineyard in line with industry standards within a
reasonable time.
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Questions?