California Ag Network

Tag: Pierce’s Disease Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board

  • Why this Grape Grower Urges a Yes Vote on the Pierce’s Disease Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Referendum

    California wine grape growers have the opportunity to vote on whether to continue assessments to support the Pierce’s Disease Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) Board. Ballots are being sent in the mail this month. Administered by CDFA and led by the wine grape industry for the last 25 years, this program funds research and activities to lessen the impact of threatening vineyard pests & diseases. Watch this brief interview with Lodi wine grape grower Aaron Lange as he shares with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network why he is voting “yes” on the referendum and explains what the Board has been working on that he finds so critical to the future of the industry.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor SIPCAM AGRO USA for their industry support.

  • Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Continuation Referendum Passes

    The Pierce’s Disease & Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) Referendum, conducted this spring, passed with 78 percent approval of California winegrape growers. All winegrape producer entities that paid the assessment on grapes crushed in 2019 received ballots and 49 percent cast ballots. Assessment funds are used for research, outreach, and related activities on PD, GWSS, and other designated pests and diseases of winegrapes.

    “It is heartening to know that California’s winegrape growers continue to see value in the joint effort that we’ve built together with the assessment,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “Our growers know and understand the importance of research, and – just as importantly – they recognize the value of their ongoing investment in this exemplary partnership between industry and government.”

    The Board advises the CDFA on the use of winegrape assessment funds and has invested over $47 million since 2001 on research and outreach. The Board sets the annual assessment rate, with a maximum of $3.00 per $1,000 of value, at its summer meeting. The annual assessment rate has averaged $1.39 per $1,000 of value and was $1.00 for the 2019 harvest.

    “In these trying times, we appreciate the support of the industry in passing this referendum,” said Domonic Rossini, PD/GWSS Board chair. “The PD/GWSS Board is always focused on growers’ best interests and ensuring our industry has the best research at its back to protect California vineyards from pests and diseases.”

    The PD/GWSS Referendum is conducted every five years by law, and will take place again in 2025. Through the renewal of the assessment, growers’ continued commitment to the industry and government partnership led by the statewide Pierce’s Disease Control Program leverages funding for essential activities, including:

    • Research
    • Maintaining and monitoring GWSS traps
    • Conducting nursery stock shipment inspections
    • Overseeing nursery stock treatments
    • Controlling GWSS using area-wide management programs
    • Operating a biological control program to suppress GWSS populations

  • 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.

     

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support and tell them you saw them on California Ag Network.