Margaret River EcoVineyards event

National EcoVineyards Program: Birds, snails, vineyard walk and EcoGrower updates

Join agroecologist/viticulturist Dr Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd and Regional On-ground Coordinator, Bec Archer who will host a National EcoVineyards event.

We are delighted to welcome our special guest presenters:

• Dr Boyd Wykes, Owl Friendly Margaret River: Birds in vineyards
• Scott Paton, Nutrien Ag Solutions: Monitoring/managing snails, and bio-control of mealybugs and fungal pathogens in Margaret River vineyards
• Yann Vaucher, Wayfinder: Vineyard walk

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📆 Date and time: 8.30 am to 1.00 pm, Wednesday 28 May 2025

📍 Location: Wayfinder Vineyard, 168 Clews Rd, Cowaramup

🍱 Food provided: Morning tea and lunch provided

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Schedule

• 8.30 to 8.45 am: Registration, tea/coffee and foot baths

• 8.45 to 9 am: Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture: Introduction

• 9 to 9.15 am: Bec Archer, Regional update

• 9.15 to 10 am: Dr Boyd Wykes, Owl Friendly Margaret River: Understanding the ecological roles of birds in vineyards

• 10 to 10.30 am: Scott Paton, Nutrien Ag Solutions: Monitoring and managing snails in Margaret River vineyards

10.30 to 11 am: Morning tea

• 11 am to 11.45 pm: Scott Paton, Nutrien Ag Solutions: Monitoring and biocontrol of mealybugs and fungal pathogens in Margaret River vineyards

• 11:45 to 12:15 pm: Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture: EcoVineyards updates and new resources

Field walk

• 12.15 am to 1 pm: EcoGrower updates, field walk with Yann Vaucher and Q&A session to wrap up any outstanding questions on EcoVineyards topics or trials

• 1 pm: Lunch

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Dr Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd, National EcoVineyards Program Manager

Mary is an agroecologist/viticulturist with 30 years of practical experience within Australia and overseas. She manages the National EcoVineyards Program and will be your host for each event along with the local Regional On-ground Coordinator (ROC).

Rebecca Archer, Regional On-ground Coordinator (ROC)

Rebecca commenced with the Lower Blackwood Landcare team 2023 and has a passion for identifying and utilising suitable endemic plant species agricultural landscapes to increase biodiversity, and the ecosystem services this provides to landholders and producers. Bec is your local EcoVineyrds contact person.

Dr Boyd Wykes, Owl Friendly Margaret River:

Dr Boyd Wykes started his career early, as a child, banding birds. During his studies, he did a PhD on the Helmeted Honeyeater, then had a career as an ornithologist, which brought him to WA.

In retirement, he has indulged his passion for birds by investigating Masked Owls (Tyto novaehollandiae) in the Margaret River region and co-founding the influential not-for-profit organisation Owl Friendly Margaret River.

Scott Paton, Nutrien Ag Solutions:

Scott is a research agronomist for Nutrien Ag Solutions and has held research positions for several agrochemical companies over a career that has spanned nearly three decades.

Scott has a particular fascination with biological fungicides and the potential value they offer growers for enhancement of integrated disease management strategies. This passion has developed through 15 years of viticulture field research, predominantly focusing on the viability of biological fungicides for control of botrytis and powdery mildew.

Scott will discuss the lifecycle of snails, monitoring of populations and tracking expansion fronts over time, matching fungal biological control options against the risk profile and how mealybug populations expand through the growing season based on environmental conditions in Margaret River vineyards.

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Who should attend?

This seminar and field event is recommended to wine growers who would like to find out more about integrated snail, mealybug, powdery and bunch rot control in vineyards, understanding the ecological roles of birds in vineyards and growing resilience in production systems.

Come along and find out more!

We have developed a suite of best practice management guides on soil health, ground covers and functional biodiversity in Australian vineyards and a link will be made available at the events.

Register

If you would like to attend this FREE event, please register via the National EcoVineyards Program Eventbrite page, and include any dietary requirements.

Please dress appropriately for the weather, wear suitable footwear for the biosecurity foot bath and bring a torch.

Solicitation

If your primary reason for attending this event is to solicit business, we would respectfully request that this this is not the appropriate forum for this activity.

More information

For more information, contact Nikki Zorzi, Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd and National EcoVineyards Program, Executive Assistant at admin@ecovineyards.com.au or ‭0422 290 967‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬.

Acknowledgements

The national EcoVineyards program is funded by Wine Australia with levies from Australia’s grape growers and winemakers and matching funds from the Australian Government. The program is delivered by Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd with significant support from regional communities.