The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) along with co-hosts from California, New York, Oregon and Washington hosted a webinar June 5, 2020, sharing the latest consumer and trade perceptions on sustainable wine. Over 500 webinar registrants from 19 U.S. states and representing all aspects of the wine industry attended, confirming strong interest in this topic.Two wine industry research experts, Lulie Halstead, CEO of Wine …

Powdery mildew is just starting to show up on untreated plants in the research vineyard at Blairsville, GA. The photograph below was taken today, but infections likely started occurring some time ago. I hope you will not see it yet in well managed vineyards, but recent rains and other difficulties may have hampered spray programs. When rain is occurring frequently, …

WineAmerica, the national association of American wineries, elected new leaders at its June 3 virtual Board meeting, continuing a long tradition of leadership changes every two years. Janie Brooks Heuck, Managing Director of Brooks Wines in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, ascended from Vice Chair to Chair of the WineAmerica Board. Debra Dommen, Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs at Treasury …

The spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive insect from Asia that was first found in Pennsylvania in 2014. The spotted lanternfly can decimate entire grape vineyards and damage fruit orchards, hops, walnuts, hardwoods, and landscape trees. While the SLF has not yet reached California, officials at CDFA are already engaged and the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board has designated …

Karen Hearn is the new Vice President of Domestic Marketing for the California Table Grape Commission. Hearn’s responsibilities include leading the domestic retail team, providing strategic direction, and partnering with retailers to motivate consumer purchase of California table grapes. “Karen has long been a valuable member of the table grape team,” said Kathleen Nave, president of the commission, “and now …

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already approved more than $545 million in payments to producers who have applied for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. FSA began taking applications May 26, and the agency has received over 86,000 applications for this important relief program. “The coronavirus has hurt America’s farmers, ranchers, …

The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Foundation has awarded $30,000 in college scholarships to six students. The scholarships are awarded annually to students whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower. “All of the amazing scholarship recipients are inspirational because of their unwavering dedication to learning, volunteering and leading,” said Davindar Mahil, chair of the …

The Washington Wine Industry Foundation (Foundation) awarded $48,000 in scholarships to 13 students pursuing careers in the wine industry. The awards were made from four funds:  Walter J. Clore Scholarship – Established in 1997 by the Washington Winegrowers Association to recognize and honor the research and lifetime achievements of this pioneering Washington vintner. Six students were awarded Clore Scholarships for …

Contents of the June Issue: Putting Sheep to Work in the Vineyard Online Workshops Explore Benefits of Grazing Sheep Eye on the Target Vineyard Sprayer Calibration & Coverage Raisin Crop Insurance Options Current Risk Management Options for 2020 Weed Control in the Vineyard Getting the Job Done While Satisfying Consumer Perception

The American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) is pleased to announce a webinar series on invasive pests starting June 3. In lieu of the symposium that was set to take place at the Joint 71st ASEV National Conference and 45th ASEV Eastern Section Annual Meeting on June 15-18, 2020, in Portland, Oregon, the board shifted its format from a …