Integrated grazing (sheep) for input reduction & vine resilience
The impact, measured
Time horizon: Immediate to 2 seasons
Why it works
Dung and urine fertilise the soil and grazing controls weeds, cutting nitrogen fertiliser, mowing and herbicide.
What to measure for this pairing
Why this goal matters
Cutting inputs lowers cost and environmental pressure without sacrificing the vine. Living soil and a balanced vine need less nitrogen, less herbicide and less fungicide — and tolerate pests and disease better.
The route is replacing routine interventions with informed decisions: soil-driven nutrition, pest monitoring and integrated protection. Recording what you apply — and what you no longer apply — is what proves the reduction and stays inside limits such as organic copper caps.
Goal indicators
Market & certification: Required by organic, integrated production and the EU copper cap (28 kg/ha over 7 years).
How to implement the practice
- 1Define the safe grazing window (dormancy, before budburst).
- 2Calculate stocking rate for the available cover.
- 3Respect the safety intervals of any applied treatments.
- 4Log entries, exits and grazed plots.
Frequently asked
Won’t the sheep eat the vines?
In the winter-spring dormancy, before budburst, there is no tender foliage within reach. Outside that window you need barriers or short breeds.
What about spray residues?
It is essential to respect safety intervals and record what was applied to each plot before introducing animals — something the field notebook guarantees.
Same practice, other goals
Same goal, other practices — Inputs
How GrapeFlow helps
The proof certification and buyers ask for — logged by plot and date.
Electronic field notebook
Log every operation — cover sowing, grazing, composting, mowing — by plot and date, with an audit-ready history that proves the practice over the years.
Phytosanitary register & copper balance
Every treatment is logged with product, rate and active substance, and copper is summed on the 7-year rolling mean — direct proof of input reduction.
Plot registry & map
Every practice tied to the right plot on the map, with area, variety and history — so you know where you did what and can compare blocks.