With growers and winemakers facing unprecedented losses from the devastating West Coast wildfires, leaders of 10 wine industry groups are seeking help from Congress to obtain immediate disaster relief. Specifically, they are requesting an extension of the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) to cover 2020 wildfire-related losses. Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, WHIP+ provides disaster payments to producers to …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of assistance for residents and agricultural producers affected by recent wildfires. As of today, wildfires have burned nearly 6.9 million acres across 11 states. More than 31,000 personnel from the local, state and federal levels are working to contain 61 large fires. The USDA Forest Service has more than 7,800 …

President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced up to an additional $14 billion for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) will begin September 21 and run through December 11, 2020.  One of the exciting changes is that …

The black spots and beautiful colors can be deceiving. At first glance, the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a beautiful insect whose colors mimic the beloved ladybug with its polka-dotted outer wings and red hind wing. But this is not the family-friendly insect that people love to see crawling on their wrist or captured in a framed print in a …

Fires have once again ravaged California’s rural agricultural regions, leaving the most vulnerable in those communities without access to basic resources ranging from gas money to shelter. In response, California’s wine industry has rallied under the umbrella of #CAWineStrong to raise awareness and funds to support those in need. “Though many of our member wineries and growers are at risk …

China’s raisin production is forecast at 160,000 MT in MY 2020/21, down 20 percent from the previous year as the Covid-19 outbreak in the country’s major producing area has delayed raisin processing. As a result, China’s raisin export forecast is reduced sharply from the previous year to 20,000 MT on reduced exportable supplies. The raisin import forecast is expected to …

Michigan State University— It is extremely difficult to stop birds once they have tasted the sweet grapes. Bird damage in the vineyard is a concern in any grape growing region, particularly in small blocks surrounded by forests or other vegetation. The damage begins around veraison when berries begin to accumulate sugar and color and it continues until harvest, even in late …

Michigan State University Extension — Harvest 2020 is upon us, and early harvested vineyards will be limited in what pesticides can be applied due to preharvest intervals. Other vineyards still have some weeks remaining, providing more flexibility in what insecticide options are available while also having a longer time for pests to develop. This is a good time to review …

With the grape harvest season at full throttle, there is still a need to remember that 2021 is just around the corner. This week is a gentle reminder that disease pressure will likely increase as the 2020 growing season comes to an end. As a walked through vineyards this week I noticed downy mildew starting to take hold even after …

California’s annual winegrape harvest is underway, and wineries across the state are humming with activity as they transform the grapes into wine. Despite this year’s challenges, vintners are pleased with the quality of the 2020 vintage. As a tribute to this special time, Wine Institute presents eight lesser-known facts about California’s winegrape harvest. Want to experience California wine country‘s harvest? …