Many growers have observed late season foliar nutrient deficiencies in Concord vineyards while harvesting and there have been questions concerning diagnosis and management for next season. Knowing your vineyard system combined with visual observations can give clues to the mineral nutrient in question but only a tissue nutrient analysis can tell you for sure the nutrient status of your grapevines. …

Two separate serendipitous events occurred recently that brought a plant back to the forefront of my attention. First, a few weeks ago a colleague asked me to confirm the species of a tree growing near a public garden. The garden was struggling to grow, and a cursory identification of the tree marked it as Black Walnut (Juglans nigra). Having earned …

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA) has confirmed the first detection of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma deliculata) in Illinois. This invasive pest has been in the US since 2014 but has been working its way across the mid-Atlantic states finally reaching the Midwest and the Land of Lincoln. The Good Growing blog describes this insect and its life cycle while the focus of …

Wines with tropical fruit aromas are thought to be enjoyed by consumers, but this has only been studied in Australia (Capone et al. 2018). Chardonnay is the most widely grown grape variety, located in all wine producing regions around the world (Gambetta et al. 2014). It is considered a neutral grape variety, allowing it to be influenced by various fermentation …

Grape clusters have a uniform dynamic of berry maturation, which is considered a hallmark of fruit quality and a result of optimal vineyard management. However, uneven ripening, where berries within a cluster ripen at different rates, is not uncommon in certain years and poses challenges for grape growers and winemakers. In this comprehensive review, we will explore the causes behind …

As I have reported over the last 2-3 years, we are observing warming winter temperatures, and as a result, we are also observing increasing levels of Pierce’s disease (PD). With colder winter temperatures, the bacteria that causes PD, Xylella fastidiosa, can actually be “cured” from the vine. With warmer temperatures, the bacteria survives and kills infected plants. In the past, elevations …

Wente Vineyards, America’s longest, continuously operated family-owned winery, is proud to announce Carolyn Wente, Chairman of the Board and Fourth Generation Winegrower, was selected by Wine Enthusiast as the 2023 American Wine Legend.  She will be honored at the annual Wine Star Awards to be held February 5, 2024, in Miami. This prestigious award is a fitting capstone to Carolyn’s …

Three student teams are working on a solution to make New York state’s wine industry more sustainable by reusing the bottles. The undergraduates at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business are investigating the potential for a startup wine bottle washing and reuse facility. Kerwin Xu ’24 and his classmates are approaching the challenge with “design thinking,” a stepwise approach to problem-solving, …

On Thursday, October 19, 2023 at a dinner at the Robert Cabral Ag Center, 6 new members were inducted into the San Joaquin County Agricultural Hall of Fame.  The 2023 San Joaquin Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductees were: Dr. Marit Arana, A.L. Gilbert Company Eugene “Gene” Wallom, Lodi Farming Inc. Marden Wilbur, Lane Ranches Edward “Eddie” Alfred Zuckerman, Zuckerman Family …