National EcoVineyards Program: IPM, microbat, birds, goats, vineyard walk and EcoGrower updates

Join agroecologist/viticulturist Dr Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd and Regional On-ground Coordinator, Karen Thomas who will host a National EcoVineyards IPM, microbat, birds, goats, vineyard walk and EcoGrower updates event.

We are delighted to welcome our special guest presenters:

Dr Lindy Lumsden, Arthur Rylah Institute: who will introduce us to the wonderful world of microbats, their capacity to provide biocontrol of insect pests in vineyards and how to monitor for their presence during a night walk.
Eliza Lamb, Birdlife Australia: will discuss the Birds on farms program and how to get involved and do a bird survey

Colin Arnold, Grazeaway: Managing vineyards using goats for woody weed control
Andrew George, Yarra Yering: Vineyard walk

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📆 Date and time: 8.30am to 2.30 pm, Thursday15 May 2025

📍 Location: Centare Vineyard, 160 Healesville KooWeeRup Rd, Healesville

🍱 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 9.30 am: Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture: New insights and perspectives for biocontrol of insect pests

• 9 to 9.45 am: Karen Thomas, Melbourne Water, Regional update

• 9.45 to 10:30 am: Lindy Lumsden, Arthur Rylah Institute: Microbats in vineyards

• 10:30 to 11.00 am: Morning tea

• 11 to 11.45 am: Eliza Lamb, Birdlife Australia: Birds on farms program information and how to get involved

• 11:45 am to 12:30 pm: Colin Arnold, Grazeaway: Managing vineyards using goats for woody weed control

• 12:30 to 1 pm: Lunch

Field walk (optional)

• 1 to 2:30 pm: Opt in vineyard walk at Yarra Yering to see the drain line managed by goats and re-vegetated and Q&A session to wrap up any outstanding questions on EcoVineyards topics or trials

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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).

Karen Thomas, Regional On-ground Coordinator (ROC)

Karen is a Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator (SAF) with Melbourne Water and has a Bachelor in Ecological Agriculture and Diploma in Conservation Land Management. Integrating these qualifications for managing NRM in productive landscapes is the focus of Karen’s work and passion. Karen has been working in sustainable agriculture for over 25 years. Karen is your local EcoVineyards contact person.

Dr Lindy Lumsden, Principal Research Scientist, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Lindy is based at the Arthur Rylah Institute, the biodiversity research institute of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, where she has been conducting ecological research on insectivorous bats for over 40 years.

Microbats play an important role in controlling insect numbers, including a range of pest species, by eating up to half their body weight in insects in a night. However, due to their small size, nocturnal behaviour and cryptic roosting habits, these fascinating native mammals are rarely seen and are often portrayed negatively in the media. Lindy is passionate about trying to reverse these negative perceptions and to educate and enthuse people about bats

Eliza Lamb, Birdlife Australia

Eliza has a background in environmental science and community engagement and currently works with BirdLife Australia on the Birds on Farms program (Yarra to Yea). Before her involvement in Birds on Farms, she worked in natural resource management, focusing on threatened species conservation, and volunteered with Landcare.

Eliza is passionate about supporting landholders as environmental stewards, helping them enhance the natural assets on their properties to improve both biodiversity and productivity.

Colin Arnold, Grazeaway

In 2007, Colin started GrazeAway and has since collaborated with numerous organizations, including Melbourne Water, Metro Trains, EastLink, the Department of Defence, various councils across Melbourne, and Parks Victoria.

Colin takes a holistic approach to weed control and believes that looking after the environment and soil health, should be considered when controlling weeds. “This is where goats come in, according to Colin. “Goats can give you a big hit by opening up the site, by selectively grazing blackberry and other weed species. If you keep goats on long enough, you will eventually kill the blackberry”.

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Who should attend?

This seminar and field event is recommended to wine growers with an interest in practical ways to manage insect pests, increase grapevine nutritional integrity, grow in harmony with nature and improve the resilience of their vineyard.

Would you like to learn more about:

• The link between plant health and insect attack (especially sap sucking insects - scale and mealybugs)?

• How to measure leaf brix and why it is important?

• How to speed up IPM scouting in the field

• Biocontrol of LBAM, grapevine scale, and mealybugs.

• Local microbat species and how to monitor them

• Access to a new Best practice management guide on functional biodiversity

• The impact of agrochemicals on natural enemies

• The ecological roles of birds in vineyards

• Using goats for woody weed control

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.

Registrations are closed

Yarra Valley EcoVineyards event