Great news for San Joaquin Valley grape growers! The vacancy that was left after the sad departure of UCCE Viticulture Farm Advisor Lindsay Jordan has now been filled. His name is Karl Lund and he will be covering Madera, Merced and Mariposa Counties. Watch his brief introduction to the industry here, and read about his work in the coming months and years in American Vineyard Magazine.
Great news for grape growers in the Tulare and Kings Counties! The vacancy that was left after the sad departure of UCCE Viticulture Farm Advisor Allison Ferry-Abee has now been filled. His name is Gabriel Torres. Watch his brief introduction to the industry here, and read about his work in the coming months and years in American Vineyard Magazine.
With new pesticide regulations in effect this year, it’s important for growers to review the changes, as shared by Andrew Smith from the Sonoma County Ag Commissioner’s office back at the Sonoma Grape Expo. He shared some important things to know about the new regulations for pesticide use around school sites and the April 30th annual notification deadline rapidly approaching. Watch his brief interview for some key points.
There is a new California Water Bond coming down the pipeline for the November elections, with much promise to benefit California farmers. Watch this interview with California Fresh Fruit Association President George Radanovich at their annual conference as he briefly shares what the bond comprises.
“The raisin price is going up this year” is what raisin growers were looking to hear at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Raisin Bargaining Association (RBA), and that is exactly what RBA representatives shared at their recent gathering in downtown Fresno. Watch this brief interview with RBA CEO Kalem Barserian following his address at the meeting, and read the full report in the April issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
Powdery mildew is an early season disease and growers should have a strategy in place as to how to manage it. Viticulture Farm Advisor Rhonda Smith talked about this at the recent Sonoma Grape Expo. Watch this interview with Rhonda as she offers some considerations for growers moving into the 2018 growing season.
The recent early Spring freeze hit various Ag commodities all over the state, and the extent of the damage so far is unknown. Fortunately, most vineyards were still dormant at the time; however, some early white wine grapes, such as Chardonnay, had begun budbreak when the freeze hit. Watch this interview with Temecula grower JD Harkey, who shared how some of the vineyards fared. Read more in the April issue of American Vineyard Magazine, coming soon!
Over the last several months, there has been a lot of news coverage on the wildfires that devastated many parts of the state; however, the actual impact of the wildfires on the North Coast Wine Industry has been exaggerated in some of these reports. That is why Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute conducted a study to get some statistical data on the actual effects the fires had on California’s North Coast wine industry. Watch this interview with Executive Director of the Wine Business Institute Ray Johnson as he shares some preliminary results of this study. Read more in American Vineyard Magazine.
It’s going to be another tough year for growers when it comes to finding sufficient labor to take care of the 2018 crop. Watch this brief interview with Michael Miiller from the California Association of Winegrape Growers who provided an update on the current legislative status of the labor and immigration situation. Miiller helps growers understand the current dynamics taking place between Sacramento and Washington D.C. making it difficult to come to any immediate solution.
California State Legislature never ceases to keep growers on their toes with new proposals, laws & regulations coming down the pipeline — many of which are detrimental to our agricultural industry, but with all the confusion of the evolving legislation pending in Sacramento with regards to groundwater management, it’s great to have organizations like the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) to keep us current on what’s going on in the political arena and how it will impact our growers. Watch this brief update with Michael Miiller, director of Government Relations at CAWG for some important information on CA groundwater.