2000-2001 Review Sunraysia Horticultural CENTRE Department of Natural Resources & Environment Agriculture Victoria - Mildura Agriculture Victoria - Mildura Sunraysia Horticultural Centre 2000-2001 Review Agriculture Victoria - Mildura Sunraysia Horticultural Centre PO Box 905 Mildura, Victoria 3002 Australia Cnr Koorlong Avenue and Eleventh Street, Irymple, Victoria, 3498, Australia Telephone: 61 3 5051 4500 Facsimile: 61 3 5051 4523 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.nre.vic.gov.au ISBN 07311 5136 4 Compiled by Lyn Jacka © The State of Victoria, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, 2001. The contents of this document are copyright and reproduction of any part of it, in whatever form should be acknowledged. Extracts may be used for the bona fide purpose of scientific study. Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but 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. Sunraysia Horticultural CENTRE Department of Natural Resources & Environment Agriculture Victoria - Mildura Contents 2 Agriculture Victoria - First Choice For Creative Advantage 3 Foreword 4 Vision and Mission 5 Institute Director’s Report 7 Financial Allocations and Staff Numbers 8 Crop Quality Section 20 Crop Production 30 Riverlink 31 Commercial Projects 32 Regional Wine Grape Crush Survey 2001 33 Research and Development Farm 34 Staff List 35 Publications List 39 Glossary Sunraysia Horticultural C E N T R E Department of Natural Resources & Environment Agriculture Victoria - Mildura 1 Agriculture Victoria - First Choice For Creative Advantage Agriculture Victoria (AV) operates within the Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment providing research and development services for agriculture and natural resource management. AV comprises more than 1000 staff located at 12 research and development institutes across 17 regional centres throughout Victoria. Recognised as a preferred research and development organisation throughout Australia, AV delivers creative and practical scientific solutions for the benefit of industry, government and the community. Scientific capability Achieving economic, social and environmental benefits Agriculture Victoria has more than 450 scientists with a reputation for quality and integrity. Our Agriculture Victoria strives for research and numerous prestigious awards for scientific development solutions that are economically and innovation and delivery of results reflect science environmentally sustainable and socially desirable. that is credible, independent, innovative and We successfully work with major Australian specifically targeted at meeting the needs of industries including dairy, grain, horticulture, our customers. meat, wool and the specialised and emerging rural industry sector. AV undertakes research and development for the public and private sectors utilising a diverse We assist government, industry and the range of skill areas, including: community to: • Plant and animal breeding; • Improve international competitiveness and export value; • Disease diagnosis & protection; • Ensure the reliable supply of safe, high-quality • Integrated farming systems; products, that meet the needs of all elements • Natural resource management; of the supply chain; • Animal nutrition, health and welfare; • Improve profitability, productivity and sustainability; • Food safety; • Diversify and develop new industries and • Chemical and biological analysis; products; and • Gene discovery; and • Ensure the protection of the natural • Plant and animal production. environment. Scientific foresight and creative Commercialisation partnerships As a research and development organisation Agriculture Victoria’s strategic and applied science generating new knowledge and technologies, services are always focused and at the leading Agriculture Victoria has its commercial arm, edge to provide industry with a competitive Agriculture Victoria Services P/L (AVS), to protect advantage and the community with long-term and commercialise intellectual property. Our benefits. We work closely with other R&D approach includes contract research, fee-for-service organisations worldwide, including universities, and product commercialisation. AVS delivers results government agencies and private companies. in areas with significant commercial potential and with tangible consumer and producer benefits. 2 Foreword NRE’s research institutes are a vital part of our science capability, and each has a proud record of achievement in their field of expertise. This report outlines the achievements of the Sunraysia Horticultural Centre 2000-2001. This report is not only an important record of achievement, but demonstrates the value of NRE’s work to our stakeholders and outlines the important contribution that NRE makes to the Victorian Chloe Munro, community. Secretary Chloe Munro The Department of Natural Resources and Secretary Environment (NRE) is committed to implementing the Government’s priority of ‘Growing Victoria Together’. NRE is achieving this by developing new ideas and technologies that aim to improve the productivity and sustainability of natural resource based industries. NRE believes that sciences and the application of new technologies are fundamentally important to the long-term prosperity of rural, regional and urban communities. NRE will continue to develop new technologies for industry growth, whilst also ensuring that these technologies make a positive contribution to the health of the environment and to social wellbeing. The high quality science delivered by NRE underpins the achievement of these important outcomes through: • our research and development work that provides the latest information to develop relevant and best practice technology for local needs; • the extension services that make the information accessible and ready to use; and • the frameworks that assist in policy development, to name just a few. Sunraysia Horticultural C E N T R E Department of Natural Resources & Environment Agriculture Victoria - Mildura 3 Vision and Mission Vision To be recognised as a Research and Development Centre of excellence that effectively partners rural communities to create viable and innovative options for present and future needs Mission For Agriculture Victoria – Mildura to be a leader in delivering practical solutions through excellent science, efficient resource management and effective services to the irrigated horticultural communities and industries of Victoria. 4 Institute Director’s Report Agriculture Victoria staff Anthony Smith commenced work on the “Code of Environmental Best Practice for Viticulture” project identifying relevant legislation and requirements. Tony has the unenviable task of highlighting, in layman’s language, areas of environmental and related legislation that may impact on viticulture in both Northern Victoria and the Yarra Valley. Tony studied related areas of environmental policy and resource management while doing his university degree. Dr. Benozir Kazi started working on a dried vine fruit project looking at the role of moulds in Keith Leamon producing mycotoxins in grapes. Kazi is a Institute Director pathologist by trade and has given the Crop Quality section a welcome boost. Christiane Jaeger has been appointed to work on 2000-01 has been a rewarding year for Agriculture the “Organic Project”. Christiane has a practical Victoria – Mildura. The year has seen the planning horticulture background and has worked at the and hard work by staff and the Board of Centre previously on a casual basis. Christiane Management start to bear fruit. Of particular note has become a welcome addition to the team. is the commencement of the building program that Christina Porteous has joined the “Code of will accommodate Regional NRE staff and provide Environmental Best Practice for Viticulture” project new AV laboratories and a glasshouse. Regional working in the team to document and validate staff from the Mildura office have combined with practices that will reduce viticulture’s impact on Sunraysia Horticultural Centre staff to finalise the the environment. detailed design planning. Fiona Murdoch joined AV – Mildura as a Project A highlight of the year was the WorkSafe Victoria Officer mid way through the year. Fiona’s role is award to Sunraysia Horticultural Centre for to manage the administration of projects across “Workplace Health and Safety Committee of the AV – Mildura. The position was created in response Year”. The award was presented to four SHC to a need to ensure consistency in the development representatives at a gala function held in and delivery of projects as well as reducing the Melbourne in June. The award is independent administrative load on project leaders. Fiona has recognition of the work put into the Centre’s also played a significant role in assisting with the workplace health and safety system by both the administration of the Grapes Key Project. OH&S Committee and staff. Glenda Kelly, Lisa Mitchell, Narelle Nancarrow and AV – Mildura has been successful at retaining its Linda Pollock have all joined the technical support ISO 9002 Quality System certification after the team over the past 12 months. This invaluable three yearly major audit of its processes and group provide the kind of support