“Desperate Riverland irrigators are being forced to burn hundreds of decade-old trees as one-third of growers prepare to walk off their blocks.” (The Advertiser, September 8), while on the outskirts of the Barossa Valley vines are still being planted by syndicates.

Since the 1800s this land has been producing broad acre crops and sheep, relying on natural rainfall with no irrigation.

The vines, on the other hand, are being irrigated either by the BIL (Barossa Infrastructure Ltd) Scheme or in some cases from SA Water mains supplies.

Whether it comes from the BIL Scheme or SA Water, it is all drawn from the River Murray.

Surely it would be commonsense to use the limited water available to sustain those Riverland enterprises (and communities) established decades ago, rather than squander it on vines already in over-supply.

Surely, too, it would be commonsense to use this land to produce food (one of life’s necessities) rather than wine (one of life’s pleasures).

For more than 150 years the Barossa Valley was world-renowned for its quality wine, all produced from dry-grown grapes. Lesser quality wine from irrigated vines, labelled ‘From the Barossa Valley’ will destroy this hard-won reputation.

Years ago local governments should have stopped approving this explosion of water-hungry vines in areas able to support food production without irrigation.

If they are prevented from doing this because of legislation, it is time to change the laws.