Broadacre Burn-off | Smoke Management Guidance
The Fire Danger Season will be ending throughout the month of April, which signals the start of broadacre stubble burning.
In March 2023, the Broadacre burn-off smoke management guideline was released. It was developed in response to concerns about the impacts of smoke from broadacre stubble burns on unharvested wine grapes.
These concerns have been proven, with research by Dr Kerry Wilkinson of the University of Adelaide finding that smoke from stubble burn off can lead to smoke taint in wine grapes (previous research had only focused on the effects of bushfire smoke)
Evaluating the Potential for Smoke from Stubble Burning to Taint Grapes and Wine (adelaide.edu.au).
In light of Dr Wilkinson’s research, Grain Producers South Australia (GPSA), Wine Grape Council of South Australia (WGCSA) and the South Australia Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) then worked together to produce the Broadacre burn-off smoke management guideline.
It supports grain growers to better manage smoke from stubble burning, and to provide guidance for grape growers on how they can communicate their harvest progress to grain growers who may be planning a burn.
The responsibly falls to both sectors to work together. By following these guidelines, winegrape growers will create open channels of communication with their fellow producers, making it easy for everyone to do their part. For grain producers, it’s about following a set of instructions that should have minimal impact on their operations but could play a big part in protecting winegrape growers from the risks of smoke damage.
Since the guideline was released last year, it has been well-received and the development of the guidance has been cited as a terrific example of the power of collaboration and cooperation brought about by Primary Producers South Australia (PPSA).
We encourage our members with vines in proximity of a broadacre cropping operation to please have another look at the guideline and keep the relevant bodies informed about the progress of their harvests.
Let’s work together to minimise the risk of stubble burn smoke impacting the quality of this season’s winegrape crop.
In March 2023, the Broadacre burn-off smoke management guideline was released. It was developed in response to concerns about the impacts of smoke from broadacre stubble burns on unharvested wine grapes.
These concerns have been proven, with research by Dr Kerry Wilkinson of the University of Adelaide finding that smoke from stubble burn off can lead to smoke taint in wine grapes (previous research had only focused on the effects of bushfire smoke)
Evaluating the Potential for Smoke from Stubble Burning to Taint Grapes and Wine (adelaide.edu.au).
In light of Dr Wilkinson’s research, Grain Producers South Australia (GPSA), Wine Grape Council of South Australia (WGCSA) and the South Australia Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) then worked together to produce the Broadacre burn-off smoke management guideline.
It supports grain growers to better manage smoke from stubble burning, and to provide guidance for grape growers on how they can communicate their harvest progress to grain growers who may be planning a burn.
The responsibly falls to both sectors to work together. By following these guidelines, winegrape growers will create open channels of communication with their fellow producers, making it easy for everyone to do their part. For grain producers, it’s about following a set of instructions that should have minimal impact on their operations but could play a big part in protecting winegrape growers from the risks of smoke damage.
Since the guideline was released last year, it has been well-received and the development of the guidance has been cited as a terrific example of the power of collaboration and cooperation brought about by Primary Producers South Australia (PPSA).
We encourage our members with vines in proximity of a broadacre cropping operation to please have another look at the guideline and keep the relevant bodies informed about the progress of their harvests.
Let’s work together to minimise the risk of stubble burn smoke impacting the quality of this season’s winegrape crop.