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Summer scorcher burns grape crops
Australia
Wednesday 09 January 2008
Grape growers in Victoria's north have lost up to 30 per cent of their crops to sunburn, after weeks of scorching temperatures.
Some grapes have been burnt to the point of dropping to the ground, while vines have also been damaged.
Farmers who have bought water have been able to minimise the damage, but those who haven't have struggled to keep grapes in good condition.
Mildura wine grape grower Fred Dowdy says while the region usually has a hot summer, the past few weeks have surprised him.
"It's burnt them," he says.
"A lot of them are gone completely, they're not even filling out.
"They're shrivelling up to virtually nothing.
"We should finish up with 70 per cent, if we don't get any more hot weather. So we've lost about 30 per cent".
Some grapes have been burnt to the point of dropping to the ground, while vines have also been damaged.
Farmers who have bought water have been able to minimise the damage, but those who haven't have struggled to keep grapes in good condition.
Mildura wine grape grower Fred Dowdy says while the region usually has a hot summer, the past few weeks have surprised him.
"It's burnt them," he says.
"A lot of them are gone completely, they're not even filling out.
"They're shrivelling up to virtually nothing.
"We should finish up with 70 per cent, if we don't get any more hot weather. So we've lost about 30 per cent".
