- Funding: Australian Government’s Agricultural Innovation Hubs Program, with support from The University of WA (UWA). Initiated through the SW WA Hub
- Lead organisation: UWA
- Project participants: Wines of WA, the Agricultural Produce Commission, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, AxisTech, Plantagenet Wines, Cape Mentelle and Swan Valley growers Graeme Roscic and Peter & Jenny Nuich
- Location: Swan Valley, Margaret River and Great Southern wine growing regions.
Growers inspect vineyard cover crop trials
Swan Valley table grape growers have inspected work underway as part of a SW WA Hub-initiated project.
‘Implementing improved vineyard floor management for premium grape production in a warm and dry Mediterranean climate’ is demonstrating whether cover crops can play a positive role in vineyard floor management, even when limited water is available.
As part of a field day supported by the Agricultural Produce Commission (Table Grape) and the Australian Table Grape Association, producers viewed weather stations and soil moisture monitoring technology installed beneath cover crops.
They also looked at thermal images of vines and discussed the impact of cover crops on water budgets for vineyard enterprises.
The short-term project is one of 10 diverse innovation projects that have commenced in WA after grants were awarded in 2022 by the SW WA Hub.
The grants were made possible by $2.5 million provided by the Australian Government to the SW WA, enabling it to expand its remit to include agricultural innovation.
