As California wine grape growers work to adapt to ever-changing environmental pressures, watch this brief interview with Gillian Handelman from Jackson Family Wines relating their recent experience incorporating less common, climate friendly wines into their portfolio. Read more about growing “climate friendly wines” in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Thunder Creek Equipment for their industry support.
It’s been a while since California growers have experienced a wet year with a plentiful snowpack and water supply. Weather conditions this season, though, have pushed harvest back for most grape growers and powdery mildew pressure has been unusually high for growers that didn’t stay on their spray programs with just the right timing. Watch this brief interview with UCCE Viticulture Farm Advisor George Zhuang as he explains, and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Thunder Creek Equipment for their industry support.
Strategically positioned in the nation’s center of grape production — the Central Valley of California, 2023 marks 100 years for the USDA’s raisin and table grape breeding program at their agricultural research facility, currently based in Parlier, CA. Watch this brief interview with Summaira Riaz, the current head of grape breeding at this one-of-a-kind research station, as she highlights some of the major milestones of this program over the years, and her expectations moving forward. Read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine. (Editor’s Note/Correction: Craig Ledbetter was referred to at 3:27 as ‘caretaker’ of the the program, when in actuality, he formerly held Riaz’s position as head of the grape breeding program following David Ramming, and is much appreciated for his accomplishments with the Agricultural Research Service.)
Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.
Watch this brief interview with UC Viticulture Extension Specialist Matthew Fidelibus with an update on the performance of a couple of new labor-saving DOV raisin grape varieties that are showing a lot of promise for the industry. Visit AmericanVineyardMagazine.com/calendar/ to get more information on a couple upcoming raisin industry meetings to provide growers the opportunity to check out these varieties for themselves.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.
Watch this brief video highlighting the recent success of Delano Growers Grape Products cooperative in protecting the US white grape juice market from Argentinian imports that were having adverse effects on US growers.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.
Meal break violations are an open door for Class Action & PAGA lawsuits that farmers have been getting impacted by, according to longtime ag labor and employment attorney Ron Barsamian. Watch this video interview with Ron as he shares what farm employers can do to maintain better records and avoid the costly losses involved in such litigation.
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Although prices have been up, largely due to inflation, California wine shipments are down significantly to a level which has not been seen in decades. But, why the slump in shipments and what will this mean for the California wine market in the near future? Watch this brief interview with Allied Grape Growers President Jeff Bitter to find out, and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.
As if there weren’t enough trunk diseases impacting California vineyards, UC Davis Plant Pathologist Akif Eskalen has been researching a newly identified disease causing a canker on the trunk of grapevines accompanied by fruit disease/sour rot symptoms. Watch this brief interview with Akif, and read more about it disease management in American Vineyard Magazine
Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.
California has been blessed with a tremendous amount of snow and rainfall this spring. Coming after many dry years that have reduced our groundwater supply, farmers want to do all they can in this brief time of plenty to not only irrigate their drought-stressed trees and vines, but also recharge the groundwater supply beneath their fields. But how quickly can a farmer prepare his/her land to take on some of this snowmelt for groundwater recharge purposes and what will it require? Watch this video featuring Madera grape and nut grower Jennifer Peters, who in a very short time was able to install an on-farm groundwater recharge basin and capture much of this stormwater.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.
As the cost of labor increases and availability around harvest tightens, California raisin growers are hopeful that two new complete dried on the vine (DOV) varieties will make a big difference for the future of the industry. Austin Hubbell of Marthedal Enterprises is one such grower who has had the unique experience in harvesting both varieties, which appear to have promise. Watch this video with Austin and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.