Code of Environmental Best Practice for Viticulture Sunraysia Region
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DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES table grapes dried grapes wine grapes Code of Environmental Best Practice for Viticulture Sunraysia Region Volume 1 NATURALLY VICTORIAN CODE OF ENVIRONMENTAL BEST PRACTICE FOR VITICULTURE Sunraysia Region Volume 1 Environmental Best Practices Edited by: Sue McConnell Adam Wightwick Tony Smith Christina Porteous Department of Primary Industries Research and Development Division Irymple, Victoria Acknowledgments The State Government of Victoria’s Naturally Victorian Initiative provided funding for this publication. This publication was compiled with the assistance of representatives from the Sunraysia Viticultural Industries. Input into this publication was provided by, but does not necessarily reflect the views of, the following organisations: Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Co-operative Research Centre for Viticulture Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria Ecorecycle Victoria Environmental Protection Authority, Victoria Mallee Catchment Management Authority Mildura Rural City Council New South Wales Agriculture New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority Wentworth Shire Council Published by Department of Primary Industries PO Box 905 MILDURA Vic 3502 Ph: (03) 50514500 Fax: (03) 50514523 Also published on www.dpi.vic.gov.au © The State of Victoria, Department of Primary Industries, 2003 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Victorian Government, Cnr Eleventh Street & Koorlong Ave IRYMPLE Vic 3498 Printed by Press Here 13 Marine Parade Ocean Grove Vic 3226 ISBN 1 74106 638 7 Find more information about DPI on the Internet at: www.dpi.vic.gov.au Disclaimer: The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. VOLUME 1 – ENVIRONMENTAL BEST PRACTICES TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page Introduction 1 Environmental Impacts 9 Environmental Best Practices 27 Irrigation Management 29 Nutrition 53 Pest and Disease Management 71 Vineyard Floor Management 99 Vineyard Development 115 Native Vegetation Management 125 Waste Management 135 Biosecurity 151 Machinery 163 Harvesting – Wine grapes 173 Harvesting – Dried grapes 177 Harvesting – Table grapes 183 Glossary of terms and acronyms 191 Introduction Introduction Full tab page Introduction The Code of Environmental Best Practice for What are the key Viticulture – Sunraysia Region is a voluntary code targeted at grape growers and vineyard managers. environmental issues The code is intended to be used as a reference for the Sunraysia region? document and tool to assist with the adoption of environmental best practice and covers the three viticultural industries in the Sunraysia Region: When working towards improved environmental performance it is important to gain an • Dried grapes understanding of the regional environmental issues. • Wine grapes The Mallee Catchment Management Authority has identified the major processes which threaten the • Table grapes natural resources in the Mallee. The threatening processes related to viticulture are listed in Table 11. The Lower Murray Darling Catchment Board has also identified catchment objectives and targets. The catchment targets related to viticulture are listed in Table 22. The Sunraysia regional code provides information to assist growers and developers to adopt best environmental practices which will help protect the natural resources in the Mallee and the Lower Murray Darling Catchment. 1 Mallee CMA. (2002). ‘Draft Mallee Regional Catchment Strategy’. (Mallee Catchment Management Authority, Victoria). 2 Lower Murray Darling Catchment Management Board. (2003). ‘Lower Murray Darling Catchment Blueprint’. (NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation). 1 Code of Environmental Best Practice for Viticulture - Sunraysia Region Introduction Table 1 – The significant threats to natural resources in the Mallee as related to viticulture Threatening process related to viticulture Main influencing factors Loss of ecological processes • Ecosystem fragmentation. • Distribution of breeding and regeneration cycles. • Imbalances in species populations. Pest plants and animals • The availability of shelter and food sources. Altered flooding regimes • The need for irrigation water to be available during summer. Land and water salinisation • The use of water for irrigation. Water pollution • Pollution from irrigation drainage water, soil erosion, the use of fertilisers, and from in channel sediments. • Land clearing and agricultural development. Wind erosion • Lack of soil surface cover. • Low winter rainfall. Changing land use • New vineyard developments. Table 2 – Catchment targets for the Lower Murray Darling Catchment as related to viticulture Catchment target Description Riverine health An identifiable nett improvement in riverine health across the Lower Murray Darling Catchment by 2012. This will be determined by: • an improvement in the native to introduced fish ratio (55% improvement in species ratio, 25% improvement in abundance ratio, measurable improvement in biomass ratio); • a 20% reduction in the number of days subject to blue green algal alerts; • the reinstatement of more flow patterns as modelled in each of five river management zones. Salinity To maintain the year 2000, 95th percentile, salt concentration of 430 EC at Lock 6 over the duration of the plan, with variations due to climatic conditions or external salt contributions. Vegetation A measurable improvement in the condition of native vegetation communities by 2007, as measured by key indicators at 90% of sites in the catchment, with retention of at least 80% of the pre-clearing extent of each native vegetation community, incorporating an increase in the area actively managed as conservation. 2 Code of Environmental Best Practice for Viticulture - Sunraysia Region Introduction Why adopt environmental best practice? The major reasons for adopting environmental best practice are: • to improve the sustainability of vineyards and the viticultural industries by maintaining or enhancing the quality of the environment and natural resources necessary for the production of grapes; • to improve the long-term economic sustainability of the vineyard by minimising the inputs (eg water, fertilisers, chemicals, and fuel) required to produce grapes; • to protect, enhance and restore the environment and natural resources for future generations; • to ensure access to desirable markets, in particular those markets with high environmental standards; and • to meet industry, community and government environmental expectations. How to use the regional code of environmental best practice • The regional code of environmental best practice is a reference document and provides information to assist growers to meet legal obligations and to improve environmental performance (eg by minimising negative impacts). • It is recommended that growers firstly familiarise themselves with the regional code and then refer to specific sections for more detail as required. • The regional code contains two volumes: - Volume 1 – Environmental Best Practices. - Volume 2 – Environmental Legal Obligations. 3 Code of Environmental Best Practice for Viticulture - Sunraysia Region Introduction Volume 1 – Environmental Best Practices Each of the environmental best practices is broken up into the following components: • Environmental impacts • Environmental best practices Environmental best practice objectives – states the objectives for achieving environmental best practice. Environmental Impacts Potential environmental impacts – lists the The environmental impacts section provides environmental impacts related directly to, or as a information about environmental impacts related to consequence of the vineyard management practice. viticulture. It provides some background to the Performance measures - lists any indicators or reasons for adopting environmental best practice and measures that can be used to track the environmental can assist in developing action plans for improving performance of the vineyard. environmental performance. Relevant Legislation – lists the commonwealth, The environmental impacts section is broken up into state, and regional legislation that relates to the three components: vineyard management practice. Environmental Contaminants – identifies the Summary of environmental best practice - lists the environmental contaminants (eg pesticides, key points to achieving environmental best practice. nutrients) and explains their movement to off-target Best practice information - provides information locations (eg rivers) and persistence in the detailing how to achieve the objectives identified. environment. The information included is a summary of currently Environmental Impacts - provides information accepted and documented best environmental about impacts on soil, water, air, flora and fauna, practice. The information includes references to other natural resources, and regional aesthetics