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Frost bites into wine grape yields
9 Oct 2003
Two severe frosts have cut yields by up to 30,000 tonnes in one of Australia's largest wine grape regions, costing Riverina grape growers tens of millions of dollars. Frosts have also hit vineyards around Wagga Wagga, Gundagai, Cowra and Orange.
Leo Quirk, a Wagga district agronomist from NSW Agriculture, says yield potential has been slashed by 10 per cent in some areas. Most of the vines were at a critical stage and had three to four weeks' growth at the time of the frost, he said. In severe cases, the whole shoot has been burnt.
Mr Quirk said some vines would recover but won't be able to meet harvest expectations. One Hanwood grower believes frost has cost him 80 to 100 tonnes of fruit, valued at between $50,000 and $80,000.
Weekly Times, 8/10/03, page 18.
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