Farming in California is not easy, but it is the best place in the world to grow raisins. As growers take on increasing input costs due to changing political and environmental conditions, sustainability becomes so important to remaining viable and prosperous in the industry. National Raisin Company has recently invested in some key renewable technologies to improve their efficiency and …
Plant Sap Analysis Technology to Better Meet Crop Needs
There are many different ways to measure crop water and nutrient levels, such as through plant tissue and soil analysis; but to better identify and meet crop needs, researchers have recently developed plant sap analysis technology that is now available to growers to maximize yields and increase profitability. Watch this video interview with David Miller from Advancing Eco Agriculture as …
Crop Update With Sonoma Wine Grape Growers Bill & Lauren Hipp
Wine grapes in Sonoma County are going through veraison and the crop is progressing well. Watch this brief interview with Bill Hipp who talked about this year’s crop, from the perspective of his vineyard, and what he is doing to keep Pierce’s Disease out of the Vineyard.
Update on Wine Grape Exemption Status from FSMA
Unfortunately, wine grapes have been looped into FDA’s Produce Safety Rule in the Food Safety Modernization Act, in spite of the fact that they are not consumed fresh off the vine. The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) has been employing every effort in fighting the unreasonable regulations associated with this, and working to get an exemption. Watch this brief …
2017 CA Winegrape Crop Update with Allied Grape Growers
Other than the extreme heat beating down on grapes without sufficient canopy cover, the wine grape crop in California is progressing quite well. Watch California Ag Network’s interview with Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers as he provides an update on the 2017 wine grape crop and the direction that current wine marketing trends are headed. Read more about it …
Vineyards Wiped out by Early Season Floods
Kayaking down the Russian River, it is easy to see much of the damage that occurred from the early season flooding this year. Watch this video and take a virtual ride with Matthew Malcolm down the Russian River to check out some of the vineyard damage that occurred. In some cases, entire vineyard rows eroded away and were washed down …
CDFA Approves Increased Winegrape Assessment for PD/GWSS
The PD/GWSS Board voted during their June 19 meeting to recommend the winegrape assessment for the 2017 harvest be set at $1.50 per $1,000 of value. Following the meeting, that recommendation was forwarded to and approved by CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. For the 2016 harvest, the rate was $1.25 per $1,000 of value, while over the 16-year life of the …
New Wine Institute Leadership
SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Lohr, Chairman and CEO of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines in San Jose and Paso Robles, has been elected Wine Institute Board Chairman for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The election was held at Wine Institute’s 83rd Annual Meeting of Members in San Diego. Other board officers elected were Chris Indelicato of Delicato Family Vineyards in Napa, …
How Rodent Populations have been Impacted by Early Season Floods
With the early season rains and floods, many growers have wondered what kind of impact that might have had on rodent populations on the farm, and want to know how to manage them moving forward. Check out California Ag Network’s video interview with Wildlife Specialist Roger Baldwin from UC Davis to find the answers.
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