Amidst the current drought, growers can use all the water they can get, and recycling winery wastewater back into the vineyard would seem like a nice idea — except that water from the wineries are generally high in salts/chlorides, which would prove detrimental to soil health… unless certain cover crops planted down vineyard rows could remove the unwanted additives. Watch …

There is not always sufficient time and labor to accomplish all the tasks that need to be taken care of in the vineyard.  Fortunately researchers and allied industry stakeholders have collaborated and innovated to provide an economical way for the full automation of winter pruning in wine grape vineyards.  Watch this brief video with Kaan Kurtural from UC Davis as …

At Fresno State Grape Day, Cliff Yu from the department of viticulture and enology reminded growers of the value of measuring the bulk electrical conductivity (EC) of their vineyard soils to better meet their grapevine water needs.  Watch this brief video as he explains, and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine. Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry …

Viticulture and enology researchers from multiple universities have been feverishly working with the western wine grape industry to learn more about how wildfire smoke impacts developing wine grapes. The hope is to develop some form of industry standard threshold for smoke taint, so that wine grapes will not be rejected at the winery unless they have truly been compromised.  Watch …

Grapevines have a natural defense mechanism against Glassy-winged sharpshooter, a notorious vector for Pierce’s disease, that researchers are trying to learn more about. Watch this brief interview with Julie Pedraza from the Fresno State Viticulture & Enology Research Center and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine. Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

Monitoring the progress of your grape composition and timing harvest just right when you have thousands of acres, several varieties and diverse growing conditions can be difficult to keep up with.  Well, the Fresno State Department of Viticulture & Enology has been working with industry collaborators on speeding up with process with greater accuracy.  Watch this brief video with Luca …

Anything that can help improve soil moisture retention, limit weed pressure and improve soil health in the vineyard is worth looking into, right?Watch this brief interview with Central Valley organic raisin grower Steven Cardoza as he shares what he is doing with grant funding from the UC Cooperative Extension to accomplish these objective.  Read more about it in American Vineyard …

Drones are being more widely employed for various purposes in the agricultural sector.  The Fresno State Department of Viticulture & Enology is taking things to the next level by measuring grapevine water stress through hyperspectral imaging, using drone-accumulated data to further automate the irrigation process. Watch this brief interview with Luca Brillante and Kaylah Vasquez to learn more, and read …

While they can’t make it rain, California water districts and farmers are finding creative ways to be a part of the solution to severe drought conditions and subsiding groundwater levels by sinking water back into the earth during the “wet season”.  Watch this brief interview with Chase Hurley from Triangle T Water District as he shares some success stories and …

As drought conditions persist in California, farmers are making the most of every drop of water they use. However, there may be more they can do during the rainy season to put water back into the ground with assistance of the USDA-NRCS.  Watch this brief interview with California Water Quality Specialist Wendy Rash to find out. Please thank this video’s …