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Vineyard Development

Vineyard Development considerations should address mechanization, labor, conservation planning, clean plant materials, materials recycling, irrigation design, and more. Looking at the big picture when considering vineyard development strategies helps growers develop vineyards for the long term.

 
Jul 18, 2022

Any employee working during “Night Work”, defined as Between Sunset and Sunrise, must be working with illumination no less than as stated in Table 1 of Section 3449. The employer shall provide and maintain hands-free portable personal lighting or area lighting or both to employees. There is a note that does state there can be a combination of area lighting and a headlamp to help meet the requirement.

Jul 18, 2022

When agricultural work is conducted outdoors during hours of darkness, employees face hazards due to a decrease in their ability to see, as well as be seen by others, including those operating mobile agricultural equipment and vehicles. Two Cal/OSHA standards address these hazards. California Code of Regulations, title 8, section 3449 sets requirements to prevent employee exposure to hazards during agricultural operations at night.

May 15, 2023
Cole Powers May 12 Mechanization Tailgate

• Main needs - what is my goal today? (theft, efficiency, remote management, maintenance management) • Future proofing – what will my goal be in 5 years? • Service levels – will my provider build a relationship and understand Ag?

Apr 24, 2023
S. Kaan Kurtural , Andrew E. Beebe , Johann Martínez-Lüscher , Shijian Zhuang , Karl T. Lund , Glenn McGourty , and Larry J. Bettiga HortTechnology

A field study was conducted for three consecutive seasons in the hot climate of central California to assess the performance of ‘Merlot’ grapevine grafted onto ‘Freedom’ during training system conversion to facilitate mechanization.

Apr 24, 2023
S. Kaan Kurtural and Matthew W. Fidelibus Catalyst

: In winegrape production, pruning, canopy management, and harvest are essential practices that are increasingly being done by machines. How well these practices are executed can substantially affect fruit yield and quality. Mechanization offers timeliness, uniformity, and cost benefits, but most methods available to date are nonselective and optimal execution requires careful attention to vineyard design, management, and machine settings

Mar 2, 2023

Amid extreme weather events, many grape growers ask themselves what they can do to adapt their vineyard for climate change. Chris Chen, Integrated Vineyard Systems Advisor in Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake Counties at the University of California Cooperative Extension is exploring solutions to this question.

Nov 14, 2022
Houston Wilson, Kent Daane, Serguei Triapitsyn, Albie Miles and Miguel Altieri Practical Winery & Vineyard

Flowering cover crops, hedgerows, and other on-farm habitat plantings are a popular way to enhance vineyard aesthetics, contribute to biodiversity conservation and improve crop production. By providing shelter, pollen, nectar and/or alternate prey, habitat plantings can help conserve beneficial insects, native pollinators and butterflies, as well as birds and other wildlife in and around vineyards. Habitat plantings can also improve soil quality, reduce erosion, act as wind breaks and, by supporting beneficial insect populations, possibly lead to increased biological control of key vineyard pests. In recognition of all these benefits, the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) provides growers with subsidies for on-farm habitat plantings through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and numerous seed providers regularly market various “insectary blends” of cover crops to growers.

Nov 3, 2022

As a vineyard advisor across the United States, Fritz Westover, Viticulturist at Westover Vineyard Advising and host of the Virtual Viticulture Academy, has the opportunity to see a lot of different vineyards, varieties, diseases and climates. Fritz discusses a variety of practices that impact the long-term sustainability of a vineyard including leaching salts, why irrigation systems are important in wet climates, and the number one way to manage disease.

Jul 18, 2022

The State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) provides financial assistance in the form of grants to implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gases and save water on California agricultural operations. Eligible system components include (among others) soil moisture monitoring, drip systems, switching to low-pressure irrigation systems, pump retrofits, variable frequency drives, and installation of renewable energy to reduce on-farm water use and energy.

Jun 9, 2022

One of the latest available for offing cover crops in no-till operations is the cover-crop roller-crimper (RC). The RC has made using cover crop residue to suppress weeds in NT operations more practical for organic farmers. While the act of terminating a cover crop with a roller-crimper, or what we refer to as “Big Crimpin”, has not yet gone viral, it is steadily picking up steam. Though, the RC is sold at a limited number of establishments, its rapidly rising stardom should result in it being more widely accessible in the future. Roller crimpers are reported to have been adapted from equipment used in southern Brazil and Paraguay that lays cover crops down while crimping.

Jun 17, 2021
The Australian & New Zealand Grapegrower & Winemaker

In an era of declining resources, US-based vineyard consultant Kelly Mulville writes of his experience to develop viticulture methods that eliminate the need for mechanical or hand cultivation, mowing, tillage and suckering while simultaneously improving soil health sequestering carbon), increasing biodiversity and reducing irrigation needs.

Mar 1, 2020
Craig Macmillan, Hunter Francis, and Mike Lynch

March 2020 Article from Wine Business Monthly.

Feb 20, 2020

Grape vine trunk diseases are prevalent in mature vineyards, shortening the vineyard’s life and productivity. Akif Eskalen, Cooperative Extension Specialist and Plant Pathologist at the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of California Davis, is researching naturally occurring microorganisms to use as biocontrol against these fungal pathogens.

Feb 6, 2020

One decade ago, amidst a limited labor supply and growing New Zealand wine industry, Klima co-founders Marcus Wichkam and Nigel George set out to solve their own labor issues with mechanization. By developing a highly efficient vineyard pruning system they have removed the physically demanding portion of the job opening the opportunity to employ fewer, more highly skilled tradesworkers to perform cane selection.

Jan 1, 2020

A template for creating your own plan to better manage the natural resources in and around your vineyard.

Aug 15, 2019

Dan Rodrigues, Owner of VinaQuest, talks about how the loss of materials impacts farming; disease management for mildew, sour rot, and weeds; the effects of a wet winter; and what trends he sees for the future.

Jun 6, 2019

Dr. Stephanie Bolton, Sustainable Winegrowing Director, Lodi Winegrape Commission, talks about sustainable farming in the Lodi winegrowing region.

May 16, 2019

Jeff Newton President & CEO, Costal Vineyard Care Associates discusses his career and the history and future of the Santa Ynez American Viticultural Area.

Apr 4, 2019

Fritz Westover, viticulturist with Westover Vineyard Advising and Virtual Viticulture Academy describes growing conditions and challenges in multiple states in the Southeastern United States.

Feb 5, 2019
Mark Chien, M.Ed. Draft Publication

One of the all-time best guides on vineyard development, specially geared for small producers and beginners.

Jan 17, 2019

Dr. Cliff Ohmart, owner/operator of Ohmart Consulting Services, shares insights from his career in sustainability research and education in winegrapes and other crops.

Dec 20, 2018

Kris Beal, M.S., Executive Director of Vineyard Team, recounts some of the history of the organization, it’s current activities and what the future holds in store.

Dec 6, 2018

Dr. Kari Arnold talks about Grapevine Leaf Roll-associated Virus 3, its vector the vine mealybug, and how growers can manage the spread of viruses both within and between vineyards.

Dec 6, 2018

Dr. Kari Arnold talks about Grapevine Leaf Roll-associated Virus 3, its vector the vine mealybug, and how growers can manage the spread of viruses both within and between vineyards.

Oct 18, 2018

Dr. Michael McCarthy, Principal Scientist-Viticulture, South Australia Research and Development Institute, PIRSA, describes viticultural research in Australia.

Aug 29, 2018
Joe DiTomasso & Guy Kyser Weed Control in Natural Areas of the Western United States

Recommendations for control of stinkwort.

Aug 29, 2018
Rachel Brownsey, G.B. Kyser & J. DiTomaso California Agriculture

Description of the weed stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens), its rapid spread through California, and its life cycle.

Aug 29, 2018

Two articles on the spread, biology, and control of stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens).

Aug 21, 2018
Ashley Poupart

Ashley Poupart explores why sustain practices are important to the wine and winegrape industries followed by an overview and comparison of the major sustainability certifications available to vineyards.

Aug 21, 2018
Kaan Kurtural 2017 Sustainable Ag Expo

Dr. Kaan Kurtural, Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist with UC Cooperative Extension describes the benefits of mechanizing viticultural operations. Q&A for this session is here: https://youtu.be/JUF1FaEUudE

Aug 21, 2018
Bart Haycraft 2017 Sustainable Ag Expo

Bart Haycraft, Vineyard Manager for Jackson Family Wines Los Alamos, answers questions about the vineyard operations he has mechanized on his ranches including weed control, canopy management and efficient harvesting. The full session is found here: https://youtu.be/ItFu_50H0og

Aug 21, 2018
Kaan Kurtural 2017 Sustainable Ag Expo

Dr. Kaan Kurtural, Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist with UC Cooperative Extension answers questions about the benefits of mechanizing viticultural operations. The main talk is found here: https://youtu.be/V6gQ-KJ_XFM

Mar 20, 2018
Davinia Font et al. Sensors

Capturing images of grapes under bright light at night is used to estimate final vineyard yield.

Mar 20, 2018
Stephen Nuske et al. Journal of Field Robotics

A vision system mounted on a vehicle automatically and accurately estimates final vineyard yield.

Mar 20, 2018
Julie M. Tarara et al. ASEV Journal

An automated system was used during three growing seasons to monitor the change in tension in the load-bearing wire of a trellis to estimate yield in vineyards.

Mar 20, 2018
Scarlett Liu et al. Proceedings of Austrlasian Conference on Robotics and Automation

A survey of automated image processing methods for estimating final vineyard yield from images.

Mar 16, 2018
Craig Macmilan Crop Estimation Tailgate-3/15/18

Improving Yield Estimates: You can improve the accuracy of your estimates when you think about the assumptions behind how and how much to sample. Slides from Dr. Craig Macmillan's talk at the Crop Estimation Tailgate-3/15/18

Mar 1, 2018

Peter Work - Owner, Winemaker, and Vineyard Manager of Ampelos Cellars - recounts how becoming a certified organic vineyard led to becoming Demeter® biodynamic certified and eventually Sip Certified®.

Nov 2, 2017

Chandra Krintz, Ph.D., Professor of Computer Science, University of California Santa Barbara explains how scientists and engineers are working on a computer system that will help farmers make better decisions using data analytics.

Jul 10, 2017

Sustainability rests on the principle that we must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

May 11, 2017

If you plan to replant vines due to the Red Blotch virus or Pierce's Disease, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the Farm Service Agency Tree Assistance Program.

Apr 20, 2017

Grant Cremers describes his vineyard management strategy through a combination of under-vine cultivation and herbicides at San Bernabe Vineyards.

Jan 12, 2016
Craig Macmillan
Jun 1, 2010
Landers, Andrew Wines and Vines
Jul 1, 2006
Malone, Julian Wine Business Monthly
Oct 1, 2004
McGourty, Glenn Practical Winery and Vineyard
Jul 18, 2022

Any employee working during “Night Work”, defined as Between Sunset and Sunrise, must be working with illumination no less than as stated in Table 1 of Section 3449. The employer shall provide and maintain hands-free portable personal lighting or area lighting or both to employees. There is a note that does state there can be a combination of area lighting and a headlamp to help meet the requirement.

Jul 18, 2022

When agricultural work is conducted outdoors during hours of darkness, employees face hazards due to a decrease in their ability to see, as well as be seen by others, including those operating mobile agricultural equipment and vehicles. Two Cal/OSHA standards address these hazards. California Code of Regulations, title 8, section 3449 sets requirements to prevent employee exposure to hazards during agricultural operations at night.