In Slovakia, the grape disease Flavescence dorée transmitted by the American grapevine leafhopper, has spread significantly. This is reported by the Austrian specialist magazine Der Winzer. The Central Control and Testing Institute for Agriculture (ÚKSÚP) has declared 75 percent of all vineyard areas as quarantine zones. The regions most affected are Nové Zámky and Košický kraj in the west of the country. In addition to the obligation to report, uprooting, and insecticide treatment, the burning of infected vines is also mandatory. Replanting is only permitted after at least two years. In infested areas, it is prohibited to produce and introduce noble cuttings and rootstocks. Since the beginning of 2026, winemakers are required to monitor for leafhoppers on their own plots using yellow traps. As soon as an American grapevine leafhopper is found, the entire area must be treated with insecticides. Afterwards, ÚKSÚP inspects the vineyard and takes samples. So far, about 110 of the total 20,000 hectares of vineyards have been uprooted in Slovakia due to Flavescence dorée.

In Austria, ORF recently reported delays in combating the American grapevine leafhopper in northern Burgenland. Some winemakers complain that uprooting orders are issued too slowly and their implementation is not sufficiently controlled. There are too many overgrown areas. As a result, the mandatory use of insecticides in neighboring vineyards is ineffective. Anyone who ignores an uprooting order must pay a fine of 6,000 euros per hectare. However, the cost of uprooting a heavily overgrown vineyard would be around 10,000 euros.

(al; Image: LWK Burgenland-Daniel Pachinger)

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