Anti-pesticide sentiment has never been more prevalent, as California courts and anti-agricultural organizations frighten the public with non-science based claims of the harmful effects of crop protection materials such as glyphosate.  What farmers need to understand though now, is that much more than glyphosate is currently at stake.  The legislature is now being pressured to change the whole pesticide regulatory …

Fungicide Resistance is a real issue in the grape industry in regards to powdery mildew control.  Growers need to take this seriously and be able to recognize signs of it in their vineyards; however, sometimes what may appear to be a resistance problem may actually be an issue of poor sprayer calibration/coverage.  Watch this brief video with Research Plant Pathologist …

As if California grape growers didn’t have enough pest issues to deal with, UCCE Entomologist Surendra Dara reported a recent resurgence of the Western Grapeleaf Skeletonizer in California.  Watch this brief interview with Dara, as he shares where the pest is resurfacing and how growers can manage it both conventionally and organically.  Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine. …

Insects are much easier to manage when they start off the season in similar stages of development.  Unfortunately, that is not always the case, especially when you start off the season with inconsistent weather patterns.  Watch this brief interview with UCCE Entomologist out of Kern County, David Haviland, as he explains this with regard to mealybugs.

Nematodes are are pests of a host of crops, but what are the options for controlling them in vineyards?  Watch this brief video interview with UC Cooperative Extension Viticulture Advisor Karl Lund as he shares both pre and post-planting options for managing nematodes.  Some of these options are even compatible for organic growers, so check it out, and read more …

As biopesticides become more available to the grape industry, growers and PCAs may wonder how to best go about incorporating them in the integrated pest management programs. This was a topic addressed by Dan Rodrigues from Vina Quest and the Cal Poly Viticulture & Enology Department at Malcolm Media’s recent Central Coast Grape Expo. Watch his brief interview here and …

Good news for the grape industry. Growers now have access to more nematode resistant rootstocks than ever before. UCCE Viticulture Farm Advisor Karl Lund recently talked about the characteristics and availability of these rootstocks at Malcolm Media’s Tree & Vine Expo in Turlock, CA. Watch his brief interview and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.