The 2011 Spring Vine Health Field Days kicks off this month, with 10 workshops being held in across four states.

Field day coordinator and National Wine & Grape Industry Centre deputy director Greg Dunn says the initiative aims to provide practical support and knowledge to improve and better manage vine health.

“Workshops and field days are held early in the season and address priorities that have been identified to meet individual region needs,” Dunn said.

The program is funded by GWRDC, is an initiative of the National Wine & Grape Industry Centre with inputs from DPI NSW and Charles Sturt University.

Although the workshops and field days are diverse in terms of activities and presenters, the major topics being addressed this season are advanced disease management and soil biology and management.

To book a place on the workshops please email: [email protected] or go to www.nwgic.org

The workshops will be held on:

• August 16 – Hunter Valley. Topics include spray application and new products, integrated pest management, phosphorous acid update and fruit rot identification.
• August 31 (to be confirmed) – Murray Valley. Topics include bunch rot update, spray application and spray products.
• September 1 – Griffith. Topics include Riverina soil and petiole analysis, disease management, spray applicaton and products and fruit fly update.
• September 2 – Tumbarumba. Topics include botrytis management, spray application, cover crop management, soil management and climate models.
• September 10 – Canberra (TBC). Topics to be confirmed but will include soil management.
• September 8 – Yarra Valley. Topics include vine nutrition, potassium effects and management in vineyard and winemaking, and chemical update.
• Dates and topics are yet to be confirmed for workshops in Orange and Queensland in September.