A Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter find in Turlock back in August 2024 has led to an expanding quarantine in Stanislaus County. The primary vector for the grapevine-killing Pierce’s Disease, this insect pest is a top concern for the regional grape industry and the Stanislaus County Ag Department. At Malcolm Media’s Tree & Vine Expo in Turlock and in an interview with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network, Stanislaus County Ag Commissioner Linda Pinfold shared the details of the quarantine and their efforts with the community in eradicating this invasive pest from the county. Watch this brief interview and read more about it in the January issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
Tag: PD GWSS
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PD/GWSS Winegrape Assessment set at $1.25 for 2023 Harvest
To continue funding crucial research combating winegrape pests and diseases, the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board kept the PD/GWSS Winegrape Assessment rate at $1.25 per $1,000 value for the 2023 harvest.
The Board ensures grower funds are utilized wisely and productively to support the development of innovative solutions to PD, GWSS, and seven additional designated winegrapes pests and diseases. The 2023 assessment is expected to bring in an estimated $5.0 million. View the full list of pests and diseases online at bit.ly/3qSSPQ8.
“As the PD/GWSS Board, our responsibility lies in protecting the interests of the winegrape industry and promoting its long-term sustainability,” said PD/GWSS Board Chair William Drayton. “The PD/GWSS assessment allows us to effectively allocate resources towards comprehensive research efforts, enabling leading scientists to tackle the ever-evolving challenges posed by pests and diseases.”
The assessment has averaged $1.35 per $1,000 of value and has collected $83.1 million since 2001. The Board advises the California Department of Food and Agriculture on the best use of assessment funds, with $55 million invested in 282 research grants.
The Board has been at the forefront of safeguarding the California winegrape industry against devastating threats since winegrape growers passed the first PD/GWSS Referendum in 2000. The PD/GWSS Referendum is conducted every five years and will take place again in 2025. Learn more about Board-funded research, including a list of current research projects, at bit.ly/3w27mtc.
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PD/GWSS Board Grants $2.7 Million in New Funding for 17 Research Projects
The PD/GWSS Board recommended $2.7 million in new funding for 17 research projects investigating PD, grapevine viruses, and vectors over the next three years. Sixteen projects are new and one is an expansion of a previously approved project. Additionally, 10 previously approved multi-year projects received continued funding for a little more than $1 million for the fiscal year 2023-2024. The recommendation was approved by California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross.
“We were pleased with the high number of research proposals we received, especially the increase in projects addressing grapevine viruses,” said Dr. Kristin Lowe, PD/GWSS Board research coordinator. “Every research project the PD/GWSS Board funds brings the winegrape grower industry closer to solutions for the pest and disease problems growers face.”
The Board has invested over $55 million since 2001 in research and outreach to protect vineyards, prevent the spread of pests and diseases, and deliver practical and sustainable solutions. Click to learn more about Board-funded research.
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What You May Not Know About the Pierce’s Disease Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Control Program
It’s getting to be time soon for California grape growers to vote on the continuation of the Pierce’s Disease Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Control Program. You may not feel that Pierce’s Disease is a threat to your vineyard, but other pests and disease are. Watch this brief interview with Michael Miiller from the California Association of Winegrape Growers as he shares about some new pests and diseases covered under this program that may soon otherwise become a threat to your vineyard. Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
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