Apart from his academic role as foundation professor of horticulture and viticulture at the University of Melbourne, he and partner Winsome McCaughey, run a 30 acre vineyard, 'Baddaginnie Run', near Strathbogie.
Snow said Australia was one of the only countries he knew of, which did not acknowledge climate change was happening. “The polarising debate here about climate change is unique,” he said.
He said an anticipated climate change induced atmospheric temperature rise, of three degrees by 2060, seemed optimistic when the average rose 1.3 degrees last year. “I’m not certain it will get drier, but it will be hotter”.
On another tack, Snow said the herbicide Roundup was so far entrenched in Australian farming systems, that it would be impossible to ban its use without seriously harming food and fibre production.
Roundup ready seeds – they include soybeans, corn, canola, lucerne, cotton, and sorghum, with wheat under development – are immune to the herbicide while weeds in the crops are killed.
But Snow highlighted the difference in on-label instructions for use, between Roundup bought by farmers and the same product sold in supermarkets.
“While farmers and spray contractors are well covered, there is very little information provided to buyers of domestic quantities of the product,” Snow said.
At the next Stock and Land session on Tuesday March 3, Geoff Lee and partner Maxine Gardiner from Molyullah, will talk about Harry Ferguson and his tractors and what local aficionados do to proclaim their love of the brand.
David Palmer