Unless you are reading this from OS, you will be aware of the extreme climatic events of the last six months including the bush fires in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, flooding in New South Wales and Queensland and drought conditions across much of Australia.
Remarkably, the Yarra has escaped many of the harsh extremes with the biggest challenge being the lack of rain since December. These dry conditions have offered an incredible amount of feedback regarding which sites and practices best equip the vine with the ability to cope through such a tough period.
We’re now three years into farming both organically and without irrigation (dry farming). Dry farming has really tested our resolve but we’ve learnt some good lessons about what works well and what doesn’t. Ultimately, all roads lead to improving soil structure, increasing moisture holding capacity and reducing soil temperatures by way of improved vineyard practices.