Vineyards get all-clear

By Kath Gannaway
THE Yarra Valley Wine Growers Association (YVWGA) has welcomed results of a Department of Primary Industry survey confirming no new phylloxera outbreaks.
Phylloxera, an aphid which feeds on the roots of grapevines was discovered in the Beavis Vineyard in St Hubert’s Road, Coldstream early in December last year.
Michael Matthews, YVWGA chairman, said 700 hectares had been tested since 11 December and received the all-clear.
“It reinforces what we were optimistically hoping for in the first place – that management of phylloxera protocols in the valley was pretty good … not perfect, but good.”
Mr Matthews said a further 300 hectares remains to be tested within the five-kilometre control area.
“If there is no sign of it there, we will immediately raise our eyes to heaven,” he said.
The testing is being done by Primary Industries Research at Knoxfield.
Greg King, senior project officer plant protection at Knoxfield confirmed the report and said testing had been extended to include vineyards outside that area which had had exposure to the infested vineyard through mutual use of such things as harvesters, contractors and bins.
Mr King said the survey teams, a mix of DPI staff and vineyard workers, were well trained at infested vineyards in other parts of the state.
“The inclusion of contract workers who normally work in Yarra Valley, you have a pool of people who know what phylloxera is.
“Having those people out there augurs well for earlier identification and for ensuring vineyards implement proper biosecurity protocols,” Mr King said.