Clarendon Branch of the Agricultural Bureau

The Clarendon Branch of the Agricultural Bureau May 2019 meeting guest speaker was Jeff Edwards from the Department for the Environment and Water. Jeff explained the likely changes that were going to occur and the proposed changes to the agency which will be renamed Landscape SA.

Jeff went on to talk about his main topic that being the monitoring of bats in the local region with attention being focussed on Micro Bats. Jeff and his team have confirmed up to five different species of bats in some areas of the McLaren Vale area. Jeff explained the benefits of bats in the environment and the important role they play.

‘Some of Australia’s smallest mammals are being recruited to produce more environmentally friendly wines in McLaren Vale. Microbats can weigh as little as three grams yet can eat up to half their bodyweight in insects each night, which is why they’ve attracted the interest of grape growers. The tiny flying mammals are being investigated to see if they can provide cheap, effective pest control totally based on natural processes, with the benefit of using less pesticides in vineyards.’

www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges/news/190219-microbats