California Ag Network

Category: Non-Video

  • Lodi Winegrape Commission Welcomes New Officers and Members of Board of Directors

    The new 2019-2020 board of directors took office during the July meeting of the Lodi Winegrape Commission. Diego Olagaray

    Kendra Altnow Elected Chairman of the Lodi Winegrape Commission

    joins current commissioners Kendra Altnow, Ben Kolber, Aaron Shinn, Galen Schmiedt, Bruce Fry, Curt Gillespie, Matt Lauchland, and Ed Van Diemen. Joining current alternates Brandon Sywassink, Art Prudhel, Tom Murphy, Clifford Castelanelli, and Phil Abba are Mitch Spaletta, Todd Maley, Garret Schafer, and Jason Eells

    The Lodi Winegrape Commission, established in 1991, represents the common interests of Lodi winegrowers with programs in marketing, education, research, and sustainable viticulture.  The Commission collectively and effectively promotes Lodi’s vibrant, multi-generational farming community and the California’s most dynamic wine region. Comprised of nine commissioners and nine alternates, the board of directors provides direction and input on behalf of the region’s 750 winegrowers.

    At the July meeting, Altnow was elected chairman, Kolber vice-chair, Shinn secretary, and Schmiedt treasurer.  “I’ve been involved with the Commission for six years and we are steps away from implementing our strategic plan, Board restructuring, and a branding campaign,” said Altnow. “I am excited to see the planning through with our experienced and diverse board who have deep Lodi roots and have Lodi grower’s interests at heart.” Altnow is the Marketing Manager at LangeTwins Family Winery & Vineyards where she works closely with family and team members to determine strategy for their portfolio of brands while supporting wholesale and DtC channels. Altnow holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley.

    Olagaray, joining as a commissioner, is co-owner of Olagaray Brothers & Twin Vines in Lodi. In addition to his role on the Board of Directors for the Lodi Winegrape Commission, Olagaray currently serves on the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Board of Directors, District 3 which is comprised of California Crush Districts 5, 9, 11 (Lodi), and 17. Olagaray holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

    Joining as an alternate, Mitch Spaletta farms approximately 450 acres under Spaletta Farms and has recently launched a family wine brand – Intercoastal Vineyards – with his wife, Rachele. Spaletta is heavily involved in the California agriculture industry, having also served with the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau, Lodi District Grape Growers Association (LDGGA), and California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG).

    Maley, joining the ranks of alternates, is a mutli-generational winegrower who currently farms nearly 260 acres of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Chardonnay, and more for his own family as well as neighboring farms. A graduate of San Diego State with a Bachelor’s in Marketing, Maley founded family wine label Maley Brothers in 2002. In addition to serving with the Lodi Winegrape Commission, Maley is an active member of the Lodi-Tokay Rotary Club.

    Also joining as an alternate, Eells – a veteran of the United States Navy – is the owner/operator of Eells Family Farm, Arbor Vineyards, Inc., and Mettler Family Vineyards. Past president of the Lodi District Grape Growers Association (LDGGA) and former member of the board of directors for the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau, Eells says, “I’m looking forward to bringing my perspective of farming winegrapes and marketing wine to the continued efforts of the Lodi Winegrape Commission board of directors.”

    Rounding up the alternates is Garret Schafer, Operations Manager of JW Moore Vinyeyards – a family-owned 200-acre farm whose entirety currently goes to Charles Krug Winery, Napa Valley’s oldest wine estate. A graduate of Delta College with an Associate’s degree in Construction Management, Schafer and wife, Haylee, are soon launching their own family label, Alliance Winery, which will debut with an Old Vine Zinfandel potentially followed by a Rosé, Sparkling, and others in the coming years.

    “We are lucky to have such a qualified and diverse board of directors that have been so active with the Commission as well as our agricultural community,” commented Lodi Winegrape Commission Executive Director Stuart Spencer. “I am looking forward to working with the group to enhance the image and profitability of the region through the Commission’s primary initiatives of promotion, research, and education.”

    Rolling off the board is commissioner Craig Ledbetter and alternates John Anagnos, Jason Spaletta, Triana Berryhill, and Pieter den Hartog. Each has contributed a number of years of dedication, leadership, and service to the Lodi Winegrape Commission board, with Ledbetter (10 years), Anagnos (8 years), and den Hartog (7 years) contributing significant amounts of time.

    “We are exceedingly grateful for the time and energy these individuals have devoted to the Commission’s initiatives,” said Spencer. “Their involvement has been integral to the successes of the Lodi Appellation and I am certain that they will continue to maintain an active role in the community way past their time with our board.”

    About Lodi Wine Country

    Located 40 miles south of Sacramento and 90 miles east of San Francisco, the Lodi wine region benefits from a classic Mediterranean climate of warm days and cool evenings. A historic winegrowing region since the 1850s, Lodi cultivates more than 100 diverse winegrape varieties. From Iberian varietals like Tempranillo and Albariño to classic Rhône varietals such as Grenache and Cinsault, Lodi offers wines for even the most discerning palate.

    The region also serves as home to 85 boutique wineries specializing in small-lot, handmade wines that have garnered major awards at domestic and international wine competitions. In 2015, Lodi was awarded the prestigious Wine Star Award for “Wine Region of the Year” from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The recent increase in critic and consumer attention paid to Lodi-designate wines has fueled an astronomical growth in demand for Lodi wines, as well as tourism to the wine region.

    Lodi is a leader when it comes to sustainable viticulture. Created in 2005, LODI RULES™ is California’s first 3rd-party-certified sustainable winegrowing program and has received significant recognition over the years, having been awarded the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) in 2006 and again in 2014. For more information about the Lodi wine region, visit lodiwine.comand lodigrowers.com.

     

  • Atlas Vineyard Management Expands With Acquisition of Bowland Vineyard Management

    Atlas Vineyard Management, Inc. has acquired the premier viticultural group, Bowland Vineyard Management. The addition of the 34 Bowland properties to Atlas’ existing client portfolio represents over 3000 total acres of premier vineyard property in the prime winegrowing regions of California, Oregon, and Washington states. Atlas Vineyard Management facilitates everything from site selection, vineyard development, vineyard farming, viticulture services, and grape sales marketing.

    Atlas Vineyard Management will take over the farming of the estate properties of Williams Selyem Winery, Carlisle Winery and DuMol Winery, and in addition to 24 different properties in Sonoma County, primarily in Russian River and Bennett Valleys. In 2018, Bowland Vineyard Management sold grapes to over 40 wineries including such esteemed labels as Flowers Winery, Sonoma Cutrer Vineyards, and Gary Farrell Winery, and small, family-owned brands such as Massican Winery, Cruess Wine Co, Sua Sponte Cellars.

    Chris Bowland, founder of Bowland Vineyard Management, will stay on in a senior role as Director of Farming.  He brings 20 years of experience to Atlas Vineyard Management, 13 years spent leading Bowland Vineyard Management.  All 100 employees will also stay on with Atlas “Our industry is experiencing increased pressures of labor shortage, tightening of grape prices, and a constant barrage of new regulations.  In order to be successful through these times, I realized I either needed to grow my business significantly or find a partner to share the load. I found a great one in Atlas Vineyard Management.” says Chris Bowland.

    Atlas’ Co-founder and CEO, Barry Belli notes, “We are thrilled to have Chris, his team, and clients on board with Atlas.  Our team has always been our greatest strength and adding Chris’ leadership will add unprecedented depth of expertise for all of our clients.  We strive to build a culture of great people who are humble and have a passion for the industry. Chris will be a great fit and we look forward to growing Atlas together.”

    The acquisition is ideal for both entities. Bowland considered succession options and ultimately chose to merge for greater growth and business success. Bowland was introduced to Atlas through Tony Bugica, Director of Farming and Business Development, who joined Atlas through Bacchus Vineyard Management, which was absorbed by Atlas in 2016.  “Atlas Vineyard Management is a growing and innovative company that has depths of experience and a positive, energetic, “can-do” attitude. They do whatever they can for the winemakers and vineyard owners. I had complete trust that they would take care of my employees the same or better than I have been these last 13 years.” said Chris Bowland.

    Bowland Vineyard Management was represented by John Holdredge, Esq.

    About Atlas Vineyard Management

    Atlas Vineyard Management is a full-service vineyard management company. The team manages over 3000 acres in multiple regions including the Central Coast, Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties, continuing up into the Willamette Valley in Oregon and the Columbia Gorge in Washington. Since its inception in 2012, Atlas Vineyard Management has been committed to excellence. Atlas Vineyard Management is dedicated to farming first-class vineyards sustainably to not only ensure the quality of the vineyards now but for future generations of caretakers. The team is committed to developing and managing first-class vineyards and producing high-quality grapes for some of the most recognized wines in the world, all while providing unprecedented service.

    www.atlasvm.com

     

  • Drilling for Microbial Gold: Eskalen Lab Researchers Seek Biocontrol Agents for Canker Disease

    Marcelo Bustamante, PhD student in Akif Eskalen’s lab, is on a mission.  A sort of microbial safari.  Only the fungi and bacteria Marcelo is collecting aren’t easy to catch-they live inside the grape vine, potentially protecting it from deadly canker disease organisms.  To capture these microbes, Marcelo and his lab mates use a sterile drill bit to drill a small hole in grape vine trunks and cordons, and then carefully collect the sawdust and drill shavings to culture back in the lab for bacteria and fungi.  They sample both diseased and healthy vines.  The hope is that some of these captured microbes will be antagonistic to one or more of the suite of fungal pathogens that comprise a serious disease complex referred to as “grape vine trunk disease” or simply, “canker.”

    Sam Wells and Erin Hardy conducting vine surgery to collect potential biological control organisms-sterile technique in practice!

    Biological control is defined as any activity of one species that reduces the adverse effects of another species.  Living organisms are the agents of biological control, and although we may think of ladybugs and lacewings when we hear the term, bacteria and fungi can be biological control agents too! Microbes can act as antagonists to other microbes, they can out-compete them for nutrients or space, or they can secrete products that inhibit their growth.  In fact, many biologically based pesticides harness the products of microbes, (think Bt or Spinosad).

    The target of this biocontrol search is a formidable one.  Grapevine trunk disease is present in nearly every mature vineyard, shortening its life and productivity.  Some have even referred to the trunk disease epidemic as the “next phylloxera,” because the disease is so devastating to vineyards.

    The disease is caused by several fungi, all entering the vine via spores carried by rain on pruning wounds. Esca (called measles for the spotting on the fruit), Eutypa dieback, Botryosphaeria dieback, and Phomopsis, are all considered grapevine “trunk diseases”-infection can run from the pruning wound all the way into the trunk.  The disease weakens spurs and shoots, in some cases  killing them. Yield and grape quality is decreased.  Eventually, diseased vines are no longer worth keeping in the vineyard and need to be pulled and replanted.

    Esca, a grapevine trunk disease caused by several fungi, causes “tiger stripe” leaf symptoms and spotted fruit that can’t be harvested.

    Since pruning wounds can be susceptible to infection for weeks after pruning, the recommended practices to prevent infection are to prune late, to “double” prune, that is, make an initial pass in winter leaving 12-14 inches-this can be done mechanically-and then come back closer to budbreak when rains are less frequent to do the final pruning cuts, and to apply fungicide “protectants” to pruning wounds.  Growers should also remove all infected prunings from the vineyard, minimize stress to new plantings and carefully inspect new planting material to be sure it is free from pathogens.  Although most growers I know do practice late and double pruning, which is also helpful to prevent frost damage, once the disease is in a vineyard, it is difficult to prevent spread.

    Enter the Eskalen lab! A group of UC Davis students studying plant pathology under scientist Akif Eskalen to help solve agricultural plant disease problems! Akif has recently taken the position of UC Plant Pathology Specialist, replacing the late Doug Gubler, and we are so fortunate to have him! Under Akif’s direction, Marcelo will be culturing probably hundreds of microbes collected from vines.  He’ll screen them in the lab, and, fingers crossed, he’ll find a few that show promising biological control against canker.  Maybe, just maybe, he’ll find some foothill microbial gold.  I’ll keep you posted…

    By Lynn Wunderlich

  • Tulare County Crop Report ( Week Ending: August 17, 2019)

    Small Grains, Other Field Crops:

    Cotton fields are in full bloom and bolls are filling. Alfalfa continues to be cut and baled with some fields on their third cutting. Corn for silage is being cut. Processed horse feed is being exported to Japan.

    Deciduous Tree Fruits, Nuts, And Grapes:

    Mature stone fruit continues to be harvested. Peaches are being exported to Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, Taiwan, Canada, the Philippines, Thailand, New Zealand, and Costa Rica. Nectarines are being exported to Mexico, Canada, Chile, Taiwan, Australia, Costa Rica, and the Philippines. Apricots are being exported to Canada. Plums are being exported to China, El Salvador, Taiwan, Mexico, Australia, Canada, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Guatemala, and Honduras. Harvesting of Asian Pears is accelerating. Asian Pears continue to be exported to Canada, Panama, New Zealand, and Taiwan. Kiwi fruits are being thinned and continue being exported to Mexico. Shelled pecans are being exported to New Zealand. Some Stone Fruit orchards are being pruned after harvest and some are being pushed out. Pistachios are being exported to Vietnam, Turkey, Thailand, France, Mexico, India, China, Norway, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Italy, the Netherlands, Israel, and Cyprus. The harvest season for Almond just started. Table grapes are continue to be harvested and exported to Australia, Guatemala, New Caledonia, Panama, New Zealand, Korea, and Vietnam. Some vineyards continue to have the leaves thinned to allow for better airflow and light. Pecan, Pistachio and Walnut nuts continue to develop.

    Citrus, Avocados, And Olives:

    Valencia Oranges are being harvested in very limited amounts and being packed mostly for domestic market but infrequent loads are being exported to Mexico, El Salvador, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, China, and Singapore. Gassing of Valencia oranges continues in order to counter the re-greening. Some citrus groves are being pruned, hedge rowed, and skirted. Citrus groves continue irrigating during high temperatures. Star Ruby Grapefruits are being harvested and packed for the domestic market. Immature olives continue to develop. Mature olive trees are being pushed up. Limes are being harvested.

    Vegetables, Melons, Herbs, Berries:

    Certified producers are growing Squash, Peppers, Eggplant, and Jalapeños to sell at local Farmers Markets. Summer vegetables continue to be sold at roadside stands. Blueberries are being exported to Vietnam.

    Livestock And Poultry:

    Rangeland feed and water remains fair. Local cattle ranchers are supplement feeding their livestock. The fed cattle price is at $111 per cwt.

    Additional Comments:

    Nursery stocks are being shipped to Washington, Oregon, North Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada.

    Prepared by: Tom Tucker, Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer

  • Techniques in Organic Farming that Influence Soil Health

    Soil organic matter has long been known to benefit farmers. The carbon in this organic matter acts as a food source for soil microbes, which then provide other nutrients to the crops grown. Microbes, insects and small soil critters produce materials that can improve soil structure and water retention. It’s a healthy ecosystem every farmer wants to encourage.

    Measuring changes in soil organic matter can be a challenge in intensively tilled soil that is used for vegetable production. Even in production systems with less soil disturbance, soil organic matter changes slowly. But, Eric Brennan and Veronica Acosta-Martinez are testing for soil enzymes as early indicators of improvements in soil health in a long-term systems study.

    Brennan manages the study in an area of California known as the “Salad Bowl of the World.” The Salinas Valley has high-input, organic vegetable production systems. “Farms in Salinas usually need to produce two or more vegetable crops per field annually to be profitable,” says Brennan. “This production intensity complicates the adoption of winter cover cropping. This is why many farmers in this region prefer to use compost to add large amounts of organic matter to the soil.”

    Specifically, the team compared farming systems that received different amounts and types of organic matter. The sources were from compost and cover crops. They recently published their results in the Soil Science Society of America Journal.

    “Our results on soil enzyme activity illustrate the importance of frequent cover-cropping in tillage-intensive, organic vegetable production,” says Brennan. “This raises questions about the sustainability of organic and conventional vegetable systems if cover crops are seldom used. We need to find innovative strategies to help farmers increase cover cropping. The practice is shown to improve soil health. It also provides other benefits like reducing nitrogen leaching into ground water.”

    It’s not that organic or conventional farmers in this region are against cover cropping. It’s that their use can complicate many aspects of vegetable production.

    Brennan’s study showed that cover cropping annually – no matter the type of plant grown – greatly benefits the soil. The study found that annual inputs of compost have relatively small benefits. There was an increase in microbial activity with compost, but not as much as with annual cover crops.

    There are some caveats in the study. This research was conducted in a loamy sand soil in Salinas Valley. Organic farmers in different regions may have different results. Using different types of fertilizers could impact results, as well.

    “The growing body of information from this long-term trial challenges the overly-simplistic notion that certified organic management improves soil health or quality,” says Brennan. He adds that the USDA organic standards require that certified farms show that their tillage and cultivation practices maintain or improve soil conditions. This refers to physical, chemical and biological factors. It also refers to minimizing soil erosion, which can worsen with intensive tilling.

    The team hopes that future research will focus on different soil types, such a clay or loam soil. Evaluating changes over shorter increments would provide useful data, too. The soil enzyme data tells one part of the interesting story of this relatively long-term experiment.

    Read more about this research in the Soil Science Society of America Journal. This research was funded primarily by the USDA-ARS, but also received 2 years of initial funding from a Specialty Crops grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

    To watch a 5-minute video of Eric Brennan explaining the Salad Bowl of the World, visityoutube.com/watch?v=M-8tCXXKqNA.

  • Farmers Prevented from Planting Crops on More than 19 Million Acres

    Agricultural producers reported they were not able to plant crops on more than 19.4 million acres in 2019, according to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This marks the most prevented plant acres reported since USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) began releasing the report in 2007 and 17.49 million acres more than reported at this time last year.

    Of those prevented plant acres, more than 73 percent were in 12 Midwestern states, where heavy rainfall and flooding this year has prevented many producers from planting mostly corn, soybeans and wheat.

    “Agricultural producers across the country are facing significant challenges and tough decisions on their farms and ranches,” USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey said. “We know these are challenging times for farmers, and we have worked to improve flexibility of our programs to assist producers prevented from planting.”

    Cover Crops

    USDA supported planting of cover crops on fields where farmers were not able to plant because of their benefits in preventing soil erosion, protecting water quality and boosting soil health. The report showed where producers planted 2.71 million acres of cover crops so far in 2019, compared with 2.14 million acres at this time in 2018 and 1.88 million at this time in 2017.

    To help make cover crops a more viable option, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) adjusted the haying and grazing date of cover crops, and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service held signups in select states that offered producers assistance in planting cover crops. Meanwhile, USDA added other flexibilities to help impacted producers, including adjusting the deadline to file acreage reports in select states.

    About the Report

    This data report aggregates information from crop acreage reports as of August 1, 2019, which producers file with FSA to maintain program eligibility and to calculate losses for various disaster assistance programs. The crop acreage data report outlines the number of acres planted, prevented from planting, and failed by crop, county and state. To find more information, view the Aug. 12 report.

    Because some producers have not completed their filing and data are still being processed, FSA will make available subsequent data reports in September, October, November, December and January. You can find reports from 2007 to the present on FSA’s Crop Acreage Data webpage.

    To receive FSA program benefits, producers are required to submit crop acreage reports annually regarding all cropland uses on their farm. This report includes data for producers who had already filed for all deadlines in 2019, including the mid-July deadlines, which are for spring-seeded crops in many locations.

    Other Prevented Planting Indicators 

    In addition to acreage reports filed with FSA, producers with crop insurance coverage for prevented planting file claims with their insurance providers. These claims are provided to RMA and may differ from the prevented planted acres reported to FSA. More information on prevented plant coverage is available on the RMA website.

    Official USDA estimates of total acres planted, harvested and to be harvested, yield, and production are available from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service at nass.usda.gov

  • EPA Takes Action to Stop False Labeling on Products

    EPA is issuing guidance to registrants of glyphosate to ensure clarity on labeling of the chemical on their products. EPA will no longer approve product labels claiming glyphosate is known to cause cancer – a false claim that does not meet the labeling requirements of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The State of California’s much criticized Proposition 65 has led to misleading labeling requirements for products, like glyphosate, because it misinforms the public about the risks they are facing. This action will ensure consumers have correct information, and is based on EPA’s comprehensive evaluation of glyphosate.

    “It is irresponsible to require labels on products that are inaccurate when EPA knows the product does not pose a cancer risk. We will not allow California’s flawed program to dictate federal policy,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “It is critical that federal regulatory agencies like EPA relay to consumers accurate, scientific based information about risks that pesticides may pose to them. EPA’s notification to glyphosate registrants is an important step to ensuring the information shared with the public on a federal pesticide label is correct and not misleading.”

    In April, EPA took the next step in the review process for glyphosate. EPA found – as it has before – that glyphosate is not a carcinogen, and there are no risks to public health when glyphosate is used in accordance with its current label. These scientific findings are consistent with the conclusions of science reviews by many other countries and other federal agencies.

    On Feb. 26, 2018, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California issued a preliminary injunction stopping California from enforcing the state warning requirements involving glyphosate’s carcinogenicity, in part on the basis that the required warning statement is false or misleading. The preliminary injunction has not been appealed and remains in place.

    California’s listing of glyphosate as a substance under Proposition 65 is based on the International Agency on the Research for Cancer (IARC) classifying it as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” EPA’s independent evaluation of available scientific data included a more extensive and relevant dataset than IARC considered during its evaluation of glyphosate, from which the agency concluded that glyphosate is “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans.” EPA’s cancer classification is consistent with many other international expert panels and regulatory authorities.

    Registrants with glyphosate products currently bearing Proposition 65 warning language should submit draft amended labeling that removes this language within 90 days of the date of the letter.

  • National Honey Bee Day: 5 Easy Things You Can do to Help Bees

    August 17 is National Honey Bee Day! It’s a day to celebrate bees and bring together beekeepers and bee enthusiasts of all backgrounds to highlight the important role that bees play in our daily lives.

    There are over 19,000 different species of bees globally, who are responsible for pollinating 30 percent of the world’s food crops and 90 percent of our wild plants. Bees are absolutely essential to sustain life on this earth as we know it.

    For the last 15 years, bee populations have been declining at an alarming rate largely due to climate change, habitat loss and pesticide use. Fewer bees mean fewer crops which not only impact food security, but also the economy and maintenance of a healthy ecosystem.

    “Sadly, more than one third of all bee species are facing declines in population and almost ten percent are facing complete extinction,” said Flow Hive co-inventor Cedar Anderson.

    “But the exciting thing is that there are so many tiny actions all of us can do to play a part in protecting bees. Protecting bees is not just the job of beekeepers – we all have a role, and it can start in our own backyards,” Anderson said.

    Let’s celebrate National Bee Day by creating thriving habitats for these essential little pollinators. Here are 5 easy things we can all do to help bees thrive.

    STEP 1: Put the sprays away!

    Pesticides are recognized as one of the leading threats to pollinators worldwide. Garden pesticides can be replaced with natural alternatives such as garlic, onion or salt spray, soap & orange citrus oil or even chili or pepper spray. Remember even natural sprays can harm pollinators so make sure to only use them outside of foraging hours.

    STEP 2: Plant bee-friendly flowers

    Even if you don’t keep bees, planting a bee friendly garden is something anyone can do.

    Find plants that bloom at different times of the year. Support a range of different pollinators throughout the different seasons. Trees and shrubs produce much higher quantities of pollen and nectar; however, smaller plants produce forage more regularly – it’s great to have a selection of both.

    STEP 3: Let your garden get a little messy! 

    Be garden lazy! Let your veggie and herb plants flower and let the dandelions bloom – the bees get to forage and you get some time off gardening duties – win-win!

    STEP 4: Help educate children on the importance of pollinators

    Educating children about bees and pollinators is a great way to get them involved with caring for the environment and provides an excellent excuse to get them outdoors and off the screens! If you have a vegetable garden, this can be a fun way to introduce the importance of pollinators – we need them to pollinate one-third of our food crops and 90% of our wild plants.

    STEP 5: Become a beekeeper!

    Discover the fascinating world and experience how caring for your own colony connects with your local environment. There’s never been a more important time to act.

    The Flow Hive

    Born out of a concern of the decline of the honey bee, second and third generation father and son beekeepers, Stuart and Cedar Anderson, invented a beehive that allows for easier honey extraction. Their ‘Flow Hive’ harvests honey in a simpler way, straight from the hive and into a jar, making it gentler on the bees and much easier for the beekeeper.

    “The Flow Hive speaks to the yearning in so many of us to be more in touch with the food we eat and more connected with the natural world. Our hive makes beekeeping easier and more accessible for thousands of people to enjoy this wonderful hobby which also benefits the planet,” Flow Hive co-inventor Stuart Anderson said.

    Flow Hive launched in 2015 through a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign which received support from tens of thousands of people around the world. In the four years since the launch, Flow Hive has reached over 65,000 beekeepers across 130 countries.

    “We hope to encourage a new era of beekeepers around the world who bring with them enthusiasm, wonder, passion and purpose. Beekeeping increases our overall engagement with nature and reinforces our appreciation of how these magical creatures work,” Anderson said.

    The Flow Hive is being used on the rooftops of The Intercontinental Hotel and the Barclay Hotel in New York, The Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte, North Carolina, at The Hague in Europe, Government House in the heart of Sydney, and at Parliament House in Canberra Australia.

    Cedar and Stuart Anderson have supported grassroots pollinator projects in the USA and Australia by producing upcycled Pollinator Houses with all profits donated in the form of micro-grants to projects supporting habitat regeneration, protection and advocacy for bees. Flow Hive is also a Certified B Corp, helping to lead a global movement of people using business for a force of good.

    For more information about how you can help bees watch this video.

    For more information about Flow Hive visit www.honeyflow.com.

     

  • California Crop Weather Report ( Week Ending: August 11, 2019)

    Weather

    Temperature highs ranged from the mid 60s to mid 90s in the mountains, high 60s to mid 100s along the coast, mid 70s to mid 100s in the valley, and low 90s to low 120s in the desert. Temperature lows ranged from the mid 30s to low 60s in the mountains, high 40s to mid 60s along the coast, mid 50s to mid 70s in the valley, and high 40s to low 90s in the desert.

    Field Crops

    In Tulare County, cotton fields were in full bloom and bolls were filling. Alfalfa continued to be cut and baled with some fields on their third cutting. Corn for silage was being cut. In Sacramento County, rice and safflower continued to grow and mature.

    Fruit Crops

    Stone fruit orchards were irrigated. Nectarine, peach, plum, and pluot harvests continued. Post-harvest pruning and mechanical topping was ongoing. Some older stone fruit orchards were pushed out after harvest. Olives and persimmons were maturing well. Asian pears, figs, and pears were harvested. Table grape harvest continued. Irrigation and mechanical vineyard maintenance was
    ongoing. Some Valencia oranges were harvested. Gassing of Valencia oranges continued to counter re-greening. Ruby red grapefruit were harvested. Citrus groves were pruned, hedged, and skirted. Some citrus were pushed out in preparation for new plantings.

    Nut Crops

    Orchards continued to be irrigated. Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios were developing well. Almonds were treated for Navel orange worms and mites. Orchard floors were cleaned up in preparation of almond harvest. Almond harvest was underway in the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley.

    Vegetable Crops

    Tomato harvest increased in the valley. Corn crop matured at a slower rate due to mild weather conditions. In Tulare County, certified producers grew tomatoes, squash, peppers, and cucumbers for local Farmers’ markets. In Kern County, sweet potatoes were doing well in high heat.

    Livestock

    Rangeland grasses continued to dry. Foothill rangeland and non-irrigated pasture remained in fair to good condition, though water was hauled to livestock in some locations and supplemental feeding had commenced. Some cattle were moved to higher elevation range. Sheep grazed in fallow fields. Bees were active in sunflower fields.

  • 2019 Harvest Begins in Napa Valley

    Photo Credit: Sarah Anne Risk

    The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) is pleased to announce that harvest has begun in Napa Valley. As is traditionally the case, harvest typically begins with the sparkling wine producers and Rodgers Vineyard will begin picking Pinot Noir for Mumm Napa Valley today. Throughout Napa Valley most white varieties will be harvested through the end of August, while the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest will likely begin mid- September.

    “We have had favorable ripening conditions in Napa Valley over the past 30 days,” said NVG President Paul Goldberg, who is also president of Bettinelli Vineyards. “The very mild, early-season temperatures have led to an incredible growing season.”

    Heavy rains in March and April cultivated robust cover crops, which organically enriched the soil with an abundance of nutrients. The heavy rain also delayed pruning and bud break bya few weeks in some parts of Napa Valley, but that hasn’t had any effect on the overall crop. The rain in April created a bit of shatter in Chardonnay clusters during bloom but didn’tsignificantly reduce crop size. Growers compare it to the same amount of reduction that occurs normally during crop thinning and they call the April rains “nature’s way of thinning.”Fruit set was right on course during the spring for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Napa Valley received more rain in May, followed by a heat spike in June, which sparked canopy growth. Since that initial short heat wave, the weather throughout the summer has been moderate and veraison has been “beautiful and even” according toGoldberg. Veraison is an exciting time in the ripening cycle when white grapes transition from green to gold and red grapes transition from green to red, a sign that harvest is just around the corner.

    Photo Credit: Sarah Anne Risk

    “With the late-season rains, vine growth took off, so crews were still leafing and hedging the vineyards when – boom – it was time for harvest,” added Kendall Hoxsey-Onysko, a Napa

    Valley Grapegrowers board member and the business manager for Yount Mill Vineyards. Yount Mill Vineyards grows five varieties for Mumm Napa Valley: Pinot Meunier; Pinot Noir; Pinot Blanc; Pinot Grigio; and Chardonnay and will harvest their first fruit for Mumm this Saturday, August 17th.

    Each year, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers hosts the definitive summary on the valley’sharvest and streams it live for 3,000 viewers world-wide. This year’s Harvest PressConference will be aired on Facebook October 15th. A media alert will be circulated with timing and other details.

    About Napa Valley Grapegrowers

    NVG is a non-profit trade organization that has played a vital role in strengthening Napa Valley’s reputation as a world-class viticultural region for over 43 years. Its mission is topreserve and promote Napa Valley’s world-class vineyards. NVG represents 725 Napa County grapegrowers and associated businesses.

    For more information, visit www.napagrowers.org
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