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Meet the EcoGrowers

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Sally MacLeod

Region: Coonawarra
1.  Tell us about your experience in grape growing?
I have been involved in grape growing for about 35 years.  After studying Agricultural Science, I worked as a research officer with a large multinational chemical company for 8 years. Some of the work was in vineyards evaluating new chemistry for fungal disease and insect control – this was my first insight into an area of agriculture which would be an integral part of my future working life. Our family became grape growers in 1997 when we planted our first grapevines and I have been actively involved in the day to day running of the vineyard since then.

2. What prompted you to want to be involved in the EcoVineyards project?
Visiting other vineyards involved in this project and seeing what they were doing made us aware of a sustainable approach to controlling insect pests within our own vineyard.  As we are very conscious of the environment, we saw this project as a way of introducing native plant species to enhance the beneficial insect and bird populations within our vineyard.

3. What do you hope to achieve from your involvement in the EcoVineyards project?
A vineyard with an array of native species planted to enhance the population of beneficial organisms, there by negating the need to use insecticides.

4. Have you tried to increase biodiversity on your property before undertaking this project? If so, how?
Yes, this is the second area on our property we have planted to native species common to the local area. The first was planted on the western side of a paddock to act as a wind break and shelter for livestock and to enhance the biodiversity of native species on our property.

5. Why do you think it is so important for growers to try and build natural resilience on their property?
It is the way forward – we cannot continue to rely on expensive, manmade chemicals to control pests and diseases in agriculture at the expense of our environment.
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6. Looking to the future, what do you see as a new 'normal' for grape growers on their properties?
Grape growers will need to work together to grow fruit using more environmentally sustainable techniques. Water conservation will be of utmost importance, the use of beneficial organisms to predate insect pests, a reduction in the reliance of synthetic fertilizers and fungicides to control disease will be some of the techniques required to ensure the sustainability of the grape growing industry.

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