Vineyard Petiole and Tissue Testing

Nutrition management plays a critical role in determining vine yield and, importantly, the fermentation characteristics of grape must and flavor of the final wine product.

How do you monitor vine nutrient status? One indispensable tool in the arsenal of vineyard managers is petiole testing, a powerful technique that offers numerous benefits.

DJ’s offer nutrient testing at three critical times of the vines growing season;

• Pre-flowering

• 80% Capfall

• Veraison

Vineyards can achieve optimal nutrient management, early detection of disorders, and tailored vineyard practices, setting the stage for exceptional wine production.

V2025 Internships are now open

Applications due: July 1, 2024.

DJ’s Grower Services run a paid intern programme. Each Spring and Summer, we have the requirement to offer paid internship positions to appropriately qualified Horticulture/Viticulture undergraduate and post-graduate students.

As a leader in providing Agronomy services, we are looking for 4-5 Interns with a mature, practical understanding of the local wine and horticultural community from a field production perspective.

Ideally, these Students should possess some of these attributes:

• Have the ambition to pursue a career in local Horticulture/Viticulture

• Have a sound understanding of production Horticulture/Viticulture

• Have excellent communication skills

• Attention to detail

• Have a strong work ethic and enjoy working outdoors

• Be able to work both as part of a team, and independently

• Can professionally represent DJ’s Grower Services within the broader industry

We see this as a wonderful way for highly talented Students to involve themselves in the industry, from a technical viewpoint.

We want to interview prospective Interns in July. So get your CV and cover letter into us.

Applications can be sent to James Hook, e: james@djsgrowers.com.au, Matthew Wilson e:matthew@djsgrowers.com.au, & Jen Pedder e: jennifer.pedder@djsgrowers.com.au

Vineyard Soil Testing Service

A thriving vineyard starts with healthy soil. Professional soil testing is an invaluable tool that provides vineyard owners with crucial insights into their soil's composition, nutrient content, and potential limitations.

By utilizing DJ’s soil testing services, vineyard owners can tailor their nutrient management strategies, adopt sustainable practices, and make cost-effective decisions that optimise their vineyard's potential.

Our ASPAC-accredited lab (APAL-EUROFINS) provides detailed analysis of your soil sample to forms the basis for a soil fertility programs tailored specifically to your needs.

Contact Matthew Hill (email) for more information or a quote.

We will Walk A Mile!

This year Jen, Jordan, Matt Hill, and James will lead a team representing DJ’s Growers as we take on the Walk a Mile in My Boots challenge. 

We are taking on the long walk of 30 MILES (50km) to take us from Willunga to Adelaide. We will add to the Hutt St Centre’s collective goal of 70,000 miles for the 7,000 people experiencing homelessness in South Australia.

The long walk will be on Friday the 28th of July, rain, hail or hopefully shine.

Our fundraising page is here; https://www.walkamile.org.au/fundraisers/DJsGrowers/walk-a-mile-challenge-23

We are taking on the challenge this year because we are in a safe, supportive environment and now work where we know we would be supported if in distress. Unfortunately, not everyone is so privileged.

Hutt St Centre is a place of connection and support where people at risk of or experiencing homelessness are empowered to rebuild their lives, rediscover their identities and reunite with those who love them.

Since last year’s challenge, demand for critical services at Hutt St Centre has more than doubled. That means there’s never been a bigger need to provide nourishing meals, laundry facilities and hot showers for people experiencing homelessness in South Australia.

All team members will be raising funds for people experiencing homelessness in SA.

Kind regards,

James Hook, Jen Pedder, Jordan Matthews and Matthew Hill

South Australian Vineyards: Renovation opposed to mothballing.

Our vineyards represent a substantial investment of time, effort, and resources. However, we are now at a point where the costs of producing grapes is now dropping below the grapes value. There are instances where vineyard owners need to suspend operations, particularly on key red grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, until market conditions improve. The current grape over supply may only be a temporary phase. Value could return if exports of wine increase demand for grapes. 

Should you mothball your vineyard? What about a vineyard renovation?

For this article we are going to argue that, as you are going to have costs for your vineyard if you mothball, you could invest those costs into renovation of your cordon wood.

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You can’t turn off the lights, and lock the doors…

Firstly lets look at the Mothballing option. Mothballing a vineyard involves preserving its assets during a period of dormancy, ensuring the ability to resume operations when the time is right. This has generally taken the form of swapping to machine “barrel” pruning and then doing basic maintenance. The basic maintenance has a cost.

Come up with a plan and a budget: Mothballing isn’t abandoning a vineyard. You’ll need a maintenance plan tailored to run during the mothballing period that considers the absolute minimum that has to be performed to maintain your asset.

Even during periods of inactivity, it is essential to maintain the vineyard to preserve its long-term viability. A vineyard is not like a factory. Vines cannot be turned off. Some key maintenance activities will need to be performed. You’ll need basic pruning, weed control, irrigation management, and disease control.

Pruning: You will have to mechanically prune your vineyard, but this has the disadvantage of requiring time-consuming and expensive reworking to bring back into production. Once you change from hand-pruning to machine pruning you can’t easily change back. 

Machine pruning after one season creates a build up of poor quality spur wood making it difficult to return to hand two bud spurs.

Irrigation & fertiliser application: Irrigation is needed. Without extra water, the health of your vines suffers, and your irrigation system and schedule need to be maintained. There is a technique available to make vines drop fruit, spraying with ethephon, which will reduce the vines demand for water. 

Fertiliser can be somewhat skipped. Vines are generally efficient with nutrient uptake, and going a season or two without supplementary feeding is an acceptable practice.

Weed and Disease Control can’t be skipped: You are going to need to undertake some basic weed control (for fire risk and to limit competition with your vines) and disease control, believe me, you do not want to let Powdery Mildew levels build up in your vineyard, even for a single season. There are techniques to limit the amount of Powdery Mildew that builds up using only a minimum of fungicidal sprays. Agronomic advice can help with this. 

Downy Mildew and Botrytis levels building up are less of a concern. The next growing season, 2023/24, is forecast to have an El Nino weather pattern which generally reduces disease pressure for Downy Mildew and Botrytis.

Budget for your plan: You'll need to develop a budget that accounts for ongoing expenses, such as property taxes, insurance premiums, and the necessary maintenance costs. Ensure that the allocated funds sustain the vineyard during the dormant period.

If you are going to Mothball; why not renovate instead? 

Consider taking this time to cut back to the crown and rework your vines. This maybe the ideal time to undertake remedial surgery for Eutypa lata (dead arm) removal. This process takes two seasons, with the vines having 3/4 of a normal crop in the second year. If you re-worked your vineyard now, then they would skip Vintage 2024 and have some fruit for Vintage 2025, before “normal” crop levels in Vintage 2026. This timeline, speculating with a best guess, would fit the demand for wine if exports resume into the Chinese market during the next year or so. 

Once you have cut and removed the cordon you are up for similar costs as with a mothballed vineyard. The basic disease control, irrigation and weed control continue.

Wild card ideas?

Alternative Revenue Generation? Is there anything viable you can use the land for? Explore opportunities to generate revenue during the mothballing period, such as leasing the vineyard to grasiers, hosting events or tours, or selling unneeded equipment and inventory to generate income.

Research Programs? Research subsidies may be available for vineyards to be used as trial sites. These programs can provide financial relief and support during challenging times.

Think short-term / act long-term: While mothballing or renovating a vineyard involves a temporary suspension of selling grapes, it is essential to maintain a long-term perspective. Consider developing a strategic plan outlining the steps required to reactivate the vineyard. This plan should include timelines, investment requirements, and marketing strategies to re-establish the vineyard's presence in the market.

Communication and Networking: Maintaining open lines of communication with industry professionals, including local winemakers, grape buyers, and industry associations, is vital during the mothballing period. Networking with peers and staying connected to industry trends will help ensure a smooth transition back into full operation. 

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Mothballing a vineyard can be prudent in certain circumstances, allowing vineyard owners to protect their assets during challenging times. By implementing a well-structured maintenance plan, managing finances effectively, ensuring security, and maintaining industry connections, vineyard owners can preserve their investments and position themselves for future success. While the mothballing period may present its challenges, careful planning and implementation can pave the way for a successful re-emergence.

Olive Grove Soil Testing

Soil testing is a valuable tool that empowers olive growers to make informed decisions regarding nutrient management, irrigation practices, soil health, and pest control. By optimising these key factors, farmers can unlock the full potential of their olive groves, ensuring higher yields, superior fruit quality, and long-term sustainability.

Contact Nathan Ball for a quote (email). 

Incorporating soil testing into regular farm management practices is a wise investment that yields multiple benefits for olive growers, contributing to their success and the overall health of the olive industry.

Pasture Soil Testing Services

Maximise Your Pasture's Potential with Professional Soil Testing.

Contact Ross Boag (email) for more information.

If you're landowner with pastures, you know that healthy soil is the foundation for successful grazing and robust forage growth. Yet, determining the quality of your soil and understanding its specific needs can be a daunting task. That's where professional soil testing services come in. By analysing your pasture's soil composition, nutrient levels, and pH balance, our Pasture service provides you with invaluable information to optimise your pasture management strategies.

We Identify -

• Nutrient Deficiencies & fertility limitations including acidic soil.

• Tailor fertiliser applications to correct these.

• pH Balance and Lime Recommendations: Different grasses and legumes have specific pH preferences, and maintaining the optimal pH range is vital for their productivity.

• We cross check with local data: Regular soil testing in local farms mean we have established a baseline for your pasture's soil health and provides a benchmark to monitor for changes over time.

• Methods to be cost-effective: Investing in professional soil testing services may seem like an additional expense, but it can actually save you money in the long run.

By tailoring your approach to your pasture's specific needs, you'll foster a thriving soil ecosystem, improve grazing quality, and enhance animal performance.

Embrace soil testing as an essential tool for maximizing the productivity, and profitability!

Bud dissection service - our book is filling now.

Technical services: Bud Dissection & Primary Bud Necrosis

DJ's are specialists in grapevine bud dissection and fruitfulness analysis. Due to poor spring growing conditions we are expecting to have low bud fruitfulness. We recommend using bud dissections for an indication of bud fertility and to help estimate yield potential for Vintage 2024.

Dissections are also useful to show the health status of a vineyard by determining the level of primary bud necrosis (PBN) and other disorders and even pest like Grape Vine Bud Mite.

PRICE ON APPLICATION

Contact Jess Caines (email) or Jen Peddar (email) for a quote on having your vineyard assessed before you start pruning.