Plants create a carbon/humus sponge that is the most superior method of retaining water thus fuelling soil biology and nutrient cycling, plant growth and vine health.
The photos below show how well ground cover works after rain.
This photo shows a section of soil with no cover. 5 hours after a rain period the soil surface was dry. Beneath the surface the soil was almost completely dry. Most of the moisture simply evaporated before it could penetrate the surface. No plant matter on or in the soil creates compacted soils.
Soil under vine with remanent plant & root residues protecting the surface. This photo is taken between drippers 5 hours after rain. Notice the colour difference that moisture makes.
Same as above but under vine at dripper outlet. Notice the moisture holding just below surface. The plant residues are creating the sponge affect so water hangs around for longer with less evaporation to atmosphere.
Vineyard mid row bare surface section (a meter apart). This is 5 hours after rain. Notice how dry the surface is. Most of the rain has evaporated before being able to infiltrate.
Vineyard mid row, next to bare surface area that has surface plant residue pulled back to expose moist soil surface, 5 hours after rain. Notice the colour difference to photo above.
Sustainable farming has become clouded with marketing terms in many cases to gain sales growth advantage. So who and what can we trust?
My aim over the next few months is to give some insight as to what I have experienced over the past few decades and my learnings.
This is not to say that my views are right or wrong in the eyes of other practitioners that may have come to other conclusions over time. My aim is to encourage discussion, experimentation and collaboration to evolve our community thinking with-in the farming sector. Collaborative effort is a social process.
My first topic is to give sustainability a structural road map.
My early experiences with sustainability began around 1988 when I attended a bio-dynamic conference in Kyabram Victoria at a local farmers orchard.
There was over 120 people that attended and was the first time I encountered the philosophy to the late Alex Podolinsky. This not only opened my eyes but my mind and imagination into the invisible glory of the soil.
Since this early period there has been an explosion of sustainability and environmental methods, systems, certifying organisations and spin off groups such as GMO free, free range, grass fed, low input, chemical free, etc.
Recently carbon neutral, zero waste plus others have been added to our sustainability push. It has worked well from the point of view that is becoming front and centre of our societal thinking but not all things are equal and there is confusion as to what really works and what does not.
Many so-called methods are just simply statements that have no measurements nor proof whatsoever.
Illustrated is my roadmap to try and make sense of defining sustainability (this will evolve further over time).
There is so much to choose from in the current marketplace of “sustainability” making decisions confusing for many Farmers.
I have been in this situation several times over the past few decades as new systems and methods have emerged and many fallen away.
To manage this dilemma my approach is to firstly engage with your local farming community and come to a consensus as to what system/method will collectively suit your community.
A group of like minds with common values will more than likely develop and evolve the system/method to suit your unique regions soils, geography, and peoples. This is what creates lasting change and a spirit of community cooperation and pride.
I use this example because this what has happened in my region of McLaren Vale. This model has been successful in many other wine regions and farming communities also.
A community system/method that evolves can introduce change with more ease especially as new technology, ideas and farming techniques present us.
In my next sessions I will attempt to delve into what various systems and methods attempt to deliver to farming.
Also to venture into how we understand and read our soils and landscapes. We must understand how we hurt the earth before we change what we do.
Pridham Viticulture and Sustainability fit together, it’s what we think and breathe. It has become culturalized.
Our passionate and cooperative community in McLaren Vale and Fleurieu regions havwe worked collaboratively to develop techniques that continually evolve and adapt to our changing environment.
We never stop thinking, we always ask questions, we never stop learning.
That is what we do.
Ask yourself the question – what is sustainability to you.
Thanks for reading, Ben
Pridham Viticulture will give you instructions on how to prepare your vineyard drip tube so rolling up is fast and cost effective. We also advise on recycling and packing methods.
Cost of drip tube rollup service includes 2 crew & all equipment – $155.00 +gst
Pridham Viticulture have expanded our range of winter services. These include vineyard pruning and reconstruction (an area we specialise in), olive tree pruning and local municipal ornamental tree pruning.
We use zero emission Pellenc electric tools that we also retail to the public with our sales and service centre based in McLaren Vale (see our range & pricing online).
Our employees we value highly. We constantly train our employees and build strong relationships which makes for a collaborative, productive and happy work-place.
For ideas, job quotes or management plans give us a call and see what we can do for you.
Pellenc are on a continuous technology development and improvement program which means when it comes to Battery power its getting cheaper and the power is greater. 2021 we are predicting a massive shift away from fossil fuel-based equipment to electric. Demand is growing, prices are stable and falling.
At Pridham Viticulture It’s time for servicing your battery equipment especially if you own Pruning equipment and Olivions. Pridham Viticulture in McLaren Vale we have a fully equipped service workshop to deal with equipment servicing and spare parts. If you live far-away you can post your electric tools and we will post them back to after servicing. It’s important to get your Pellenc equipment services so we can identify any problems before they become major issues.
2021 new service for McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu region. Pridham Viticulture are introducing Olivion electric olive rake hire for $100+gst per day ($500 bond required) Call or text us for more information 0414 600 342.
Check our website for equipment range and competitive pricing. We are here to provide sound advice for your needs.
With the Federal Governments extended accelerated deprecation scheme this is an opportune time to upgrade spray equipment and take advantage of operating new equipment at a lower cost base. Call us today and get a quote.
But the most advances have been made with operational techniques and timing of operation.
This make all the difference between an affective weeding pass and a costly disaster. It’s important that the first pass you make in the season is one that sets up the ground under the vines for later passes. The smallest adjustment to equipment to get the action right can make a huge difference.
For under vine soil weed management Pridham Viticulture use 2 people to setup the equipment at each site to get it right. We can also advise on how to make minor changes to your vineyard to suit non-chemical weed control. Call us for advice and quote.
Long range weather forecasts predict a wetter than average autumn which means opportunity for soils to become active sooner thus incorporating soil nutrients earlier in the season. Soil tests will reveal deficiencies so it’s a good time to get them done now or look over your last year’s soil reports. Not sure what to do? Ask your agronomist for advice.
Pridham Viticulture has upgraded spreading equipment to handle higher capacity loads to improve efficiencies to keep costs low. We also have differential spreading capabilities which are becoming more popular to even out vineyard variability. The results can be seen within a year especially if you have access to NDVI mapping.
Call or email us for ideas and quotes on fertilising and composting your vineyard..
We have discussed this extensively amongst ourselves and with our clients and continue to evolve our thoughts collectively. It means different things to different people but most of us agree we can’t keep farming the way we do as it degrades the very landscape we live from and in.
There are many existing technologies and methods that can be used in different ways and with better timing as well as new techniques to regenerate our soils.
McLaren vale is part of a global farming community network. Many of us have travelled and conversed with farmers in many other countries. We have the WEB to remain in contact and further evolve our relationships globally. Good ecological ideas can spread fast if we want them to.
We are in the age of sharing ideas, knowledge and experience which has been for so long locked up in organisations at a considerable cost. We now have the ability to mobilise change at a far greater pace than ever before, so let’s use it to repair and regenerate our soils for a resilient future.
Our first step -understanding what affect our farming activities have on the ecology of the soil.
Don’t be fooled, bare soil is not good for the water cycle in our farming systems. We talk about soil water retention, but it cannot be done without healthy plant growth. Plants create a carbon/humu
s sponge that is the most superior method at retaining water thus fuelling soil biology and nutrient recycling, plant growth and vine health.
The photos below show how well ground cover works after rain.
Climate change is real and more people now agree than dis-agree that we need to take proper action.
In the vineyard this means reducing our carbon footprint, increasing carbon in our soils (sequestering) and removing chemical herbicides from our systems.
We now have the means with 2nd generation mechanical weed control tools and the knowledge on how to use them effectively while respecting our fragile soils.
Pridham Viticulture now operates two completely new pasture management machines.
Get in contact to discuss how they operate and could be used in your vineyard.