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    • Episode 09- Roger, Greg and Tim Follett
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Meet the EcoGrowers

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Brett Rosenzweig

Region: Riverland
1.  Tell us about your experience in grape growing?
I purchased my first vineyard in 1997 and have steadily increased the land holding to 35Ha. During this time I had full time off-farm employment and as a family succession plan was enacted, I returned full-time to the vineyards in 2018.

2. What prompted you to want to be involved in the EcoVineyards project?
The ability to gain outside expertise (and funding incentive) to help bolster my knowledge towards a successful project.  Gaining access to people that have the required experience and being able to compare against other growers in the Riverland and other districts will be invaluable. 
 

3. What do you hope to achieve from your involvement in the EcoVineyards project?
I hope to see if I can establish cover crops in the midrow, under vine and on the edges of the headlands to reduce soil erosion from spring winds, increasing soil organic matter for better water and nutrient retention and lowering of vineyard temperatures during heatwaves.

4. Have you tried to increase biodiversity on your property before undertaking this project? If so, how?
Before the Millennial Drought, we like most Riverland growers, planted an annual cover crop during winter.  Our cover crop consisted of Paraggio and Shaftal medics mixed with Tetila ryegrass.  The lack of winter rainfall, high irrigation water prices and conversion to drip irrigation promptly ended that practice.

5. Why do you think it is so important for growers to try and build natural resilience on their property?
Natural systems need a balance to work effectively.  Agricultural systems are no different and I have witnessed on the past where ‘high input systems’ can become unstuck by not having a balanced approach.  The returns are great until a problem arises that then has a negative impact on the bottom line.  The triple bottom line approach to business i.e. People, Planet, Profit is becoming increasingly important, even if it is in small increments.
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6. Looking to the future, what do you see as a new 'normal' for grape growers on their properties?
Our vineyards will need to be more adaptable to a changing climate.  In the Riverland that will involve vineyards with drought and salt tolerant rootstocks in situations where economic drivers are overruled by resource scarcity.  Our dry climate can also be an enabler for reducing vineyard inputs i.e. less copper applied for Downy Mildew prevention.


Project Partners

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This project is supported by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, through funding from Australian Government's National Landcare Program.
This project is funded by the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board through the NRM levy.

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© Copyright 2020 Wine Grape Council of South Australia (WGCSA) ABN 15 358 317 535 
  • Home
  • About
    • Our People >
      • Adrian Hoffmann
      • Troy van Dulken
      • Nick Price
      • Ben Pridham
      • Lachlan Allen
      • Jenny Venus
      • Helen Strickland
    • Strategic Direction
    • Industry Organisations
  • REGIONS
  • Grower Resources
    • SA Assistance Guide
    • Guide For Vineyard Removal & Waste Management
    • Code of Conduct Forum
    • Legal Services Partnership
    • Broadacre Burn-off Smoke Management Guidelines
    • AGW Factsheet for Growers
    • Personal Property Security Register
    • Grape Purchase Agreements >
      • Guide to selling wine grapes
      • Wine Industry Code of Conduct
      • Tips to recover payments
    • Transport Legislation
    • Despatch Docket Books
    • Licensing and Compliance Guide
    • Grower Guide to the Label Integrity Program
    • AWRI Fact Sheets
    • Video Library >
      • FIT4WORK
      • Grower Interviews
      • 2017 Wine Grape Grower Summit
      • WGCSA Councillor Interviews
  • GrowStrong 2025
    • GrowStrong Business Fundamentals
    • GrowStrong Events
    • GrowStrong Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Options
    • GrowStrong Pilot Program
  • Reports & Analysis
    • SA Crush & Pricing Report
    • Grape profitability by region
    • Global Market Analysis
  • PODCAST- Series 1
    • Episode 01- Tom Keelan
    • Episode 02- Ashley Keegan
    • Episode 03- Dr Ian Zajac
    • Episode 04- Lachlan Allen
    • Episode 05- Trudie Stanley
    • Episode 06- Adrian Hoffmann
    • Episode 07- Brett Smith & Ashley Keegan
    • Episode 08- Brad Case & Nicole Clark
    • Episode 09- Mary O'Brien
    • Episode 10- Ashley Ratcliff
  • PODCAST- Series 2
    • Episode 01- Anita Goode
    • Episode 02- Richard Leask
    • Episode 03- Matt Dorman, Callen Bubner
    • Episode 04- Kerri Thompson, Marnie Roberts
    • Episode 05- Simon Tolley
    • Episode 06- Steve Schiller, Rebecca Weatherill
    • Episode 07- Sheridan Alm
    • Episode 08- Nigel Blieschke, Tom Bartholomaeus
    • Episode 09- Roger, Greg and Tim Follett
  • News & Events
  • SHOP
  • EcoVineyards