Precision Management to improve vineyards bottom line

Location: Southern Australia

Aim: Precision harvesting

Problems analysed: Vineyard location and design, varietal selection, spatial variation, climate change, pests and disease, soil pit identification, cover crop maintenance, frost hollow identification

Precision Harvesting to improve vineyards bottom line

Location: Western Australia

Area: 8.4 acres                                                                 Area: 8.15 acres (Cabernet Sauvignon)

Harvest fruit value before: $98,400                                     Predicted total gross retail value: $725,420

Harvest fruit value after: $123,000                                      Actual total gross retail value = $864,900

Area: 9.19 acres (Shiraz)                                                                

Variability in aerial imagery identified 6 harvest zones. Harvest strategy devised from imagery where high vigor zones picked 7 days later than low vigor zones. Two zones produce wine at $19/bottle or $37/bottle. Economic benefit of PV approach $77,202.