Author: Cyndi

By: Becky Garrison

The Southern Oregon AVA, established in 2005, consists of five distinct regions: Rogue Valley AVA, Applegate Valley AVA, Umpqua Valley AVA, Red Hill Douglas County AVA and Elkton Oregon AVA. Multiple rivers – Umpqua, Applegate, Illinois and Rogue – traverse throughout this region, thus creating a number of small valleys and hillsides and a range of mesoclimates. This region’s latitude, climate and rich terroir with elevations from 350 to 2,000 feet, average precipitation of 19 inches annually and approximately 175 frost-free days afford winemakers with a European-like growing season.

  Even though Hillcrest Vineyard in the Umpqua Valley was the first vineyard to plant pinot noir grapes in Oregon in 1961 commercially, Willamette Valley’s pinot noirs tend to dominate the Oregon wine scene, thus overlooking the 70 different wine varietals produced in Southern Oregon. This includes grapes unique to the Pacific Northwest.

  For example, in 1997, Earl and Hilda Jones of Abacela Winery in Roseburg were the first in the Northwest to grow and vinify the tempranillo grapes commercially. This was followed by Stephen and Gloria Reustle of Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyard in the Umpqua Valley, who planted the first grüner veltliner wine made in North America in 2003 to 2005. Also in the Umpqua Valley, Girardet Vineyards & Winery in Roseburg was the first to plant baco noir grapes in Oregon and produce a baco noir wine in 1971. Other varieties grown in Southern Oregon that are not widely grown elsewhere in the Northwest include albariño, dolcetto, grenache, malbec, and petit verdot.

  According to Nichole Schulte, head winemaker and an owner of Barrel 42, a full-service custom crush winery in Jacksonville, very favorable Oregon laws allow for winemakers to be creative and have a little bit more control over the grapes that come into the winery. These laws allow for more flexibility in blending non-pinot noir wines such as the GSM (grenache syrah mouvedre) blends that originated in the Rhone region of France, as well as other blends that are not as well known.

  “These wines require a bit more storytelling behind them,” Schulte said. “This is where our friendly tasting rooms and winemakers come in because they can explain what they’re doing and the intention behind that particular wine.”

  While most wine regions focus on either warm or cool climate grapes, Southern Oregon can grow both warm (tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon, malbec, syrah) and cool (pinot noir, pinot gris, riesling) climate grape varieties grow very well due to the many and diverse microclimates, vineyard elevations and terroir differences across the region.

  According to Rob Folin of Ryan Rose Wines in Medford, “These cooler nights and hotter days are awesome for the grapes, allowing the grapes to ripen over a longer growing season with greater concentration and balanced acid levels.” He added that they “seldom get spring frosts and only the occasional fall frost.” 

  A key difference between the two regions is that the Umpqua Valley relies on the ocean for its diurnal swings (warm days and cool evenings to help preserve acidity in the grapes), whereas the Rogue Valley relies on elevation for its diurnal swings. Ross Allen, president of the Rogue Valley Vintners and owner and vineyard manager at Padigan Wine in Medford, points to a few examples of how the climate and climate suitability in the Rogue Valley makes them unique as a key factor to the quality of fruit they produce.

  “The Rogue Valley’s precipitation is less than the Willamette Valley and more similar to Napa, making for lower disease pressure and cleaner fruit,” Allen said. “In addition, the Rogue Valley’s growing season temperatures and heat accumulation clearly distinguish us from the Willamette and California. Also, the Rogue Valley has one of the widest diurnal temperature swings of any wine region worldwide, enabling greater potential flavor and aroma development.”

  Family-owned, multigenerational vineyards dominate the landscape, with the winemakers often pouring the wine in their tasting rooms while sharing their vast knowledge of viticulture with visitors. Eric Weisinger, owner and winemaker at Weisinger Family Winery in Ashland, points to the camaraderie within fellow Southern Oregon winemakers that creates a healthy culture.

  “People want each other to succeed,” Weisinger said. “Our region may not be that old but we’ve done a lot in a short period of time.”

  The towns that dot Southern Oregon, such as Ashland, Grants Pass, Jacksonville, Medford and Roseburg, have emerged in recent years as wine destinations with food, art, music and a wide range of lodging options from budget motels to B&Bs nestled within a vineyard estate. Unlike more populated Western wine regions such as the Willamette Valley or Napa Valley, Southern Oregon is far away from major population centers, so one can avoid the touristy crowds that tend to congregate, especially during the weekends and holidays. While this intimacy creates a unique wine experience for the consumer, Ted Gerber of Foris Vineyards in Cave Junction notes how this region’s distance from major populations can make direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales difficult. However, some wineries, like the Weisinger Family Winery, sell almost all of their wine in the tasting room or online.

Rogue Valley AVA

  This AVA is dominated by the Rogue River that flows south into the AVA at the town of Shady Cove, turns west outside of Eagle Point and flows through Gold Hill and out of the AVA northeast of Grants Pass. This region is home to Oregon’s first official winery, founded by Peter Britt in 1873. Currently, the Rogue Valley’s approximately 180 vineyards run along three valleys of this river’s tributaries: the Illinois, Applegate and Bear Creek. While this valley’s heat results in prime growing territory that naturally benefits big Bordeaux and Rhône varieties, winemakers like Jean-Michel Jussiaume of Maison Jussiaume Wines find this climate well-suited for producing sparkling wine. He moved to the United States from France in 2005 with the intent of producing handcrafted sparkling wines. In his estimation, the growing conditions of the Rogue Valley are less challenging than the region of Muscadet, where he grew up.

  The Illinois Valley, the southernmost part of this AVA, receives some marine influence due to its proximity to the coast, thus resulting in a cooler, wetter climate than much of the rest of the appellation. This climate attracts vintners like Ted Gerber, who established the family-owned Foris Vineyards in 1974 with his late wife, Meri. He chose Cave Junction as the location for his winery, as it lies halfway between the pinot noir growing areas of Sonoma and the Willamette Valley. Also, this region has a very large diurnal swing with plenty of ripening for alsatian varieties. In 1977, he had the distinction of being one of six growers to receive a few dozen clones of pinot gris, pinot blanc and gewürztraminer that Oregon State University imported from France, and Floris continues to produce these varieties.

  Like many other winegrowers in the Rogue Valley, Chad Day, owner and manager of RoxyAnn Winery in Medford, came from an agricultural tradition where he describes his winemaking process as farm-to-fork. Currently, Day oversees farming the vineyard and managing the winery while a cousin manages the orchards and field crops, all farmed on the same 250 acres their extended family has owned since the 1890s. While they grow 17 different varietals, their focus is on the Bordeaux and Rhône varieties that grow well in this warm region with their craft claret blend consisting of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc merlot, malbec and petit verdot. At this juncture, climate change has proven beneficial for them as the green cabernet that came from the Rogue Valley 10 to 20 years ago is now more full-bodied.

Applegate Valley Sub-AVA

  Ensconced inside the Rogue Valley AVA is the Applegate Valley Sub-AVA, an area consisting of 19 wineries and a total acreage of 278,190. This valley was formed by the flow of the Little Applegate and Applegate Rivers that wind between the peaks of the Siskiyou Mountains, with Jacksonville in the southeast and Grants Pass in the Northwest. As this region receives rainfall from the surrounding Siskiyou Mountains and cooling marine temperatures from the west, this AVA receives more moderate heat than Illinois Valley, with granitic alluvial gravels as the predominant soil type.

  Despite its overall warmth, this AVA poses a challenge to winemakers, as it has the shortest frost-free period in southern Oregon: 137 days compared to 150 to 165 days in other parts of the Rogue Valley. This is attributed to the higher vineyard elevations and the surrounding mountains that restrict sunlight late in the day. Also, water availability can be challenging due to little rain and moderately high heat. But according to Schulte, they are well-positioned to deal with the ongoing climate challenges.

  “We have a lot of people who are creatively thinking ahead,” Schulte said. “Also we have so many microclimates here that we’re able to grow many different varietals well, so we’re not pigeonholed into any specific sort of style or varietals.”

In response to increasingly warm summers, they are among those wineries replating some of their vineyards with varieties more amenable to hotter and drier climates. As reported in the July/August 2023 issue of The Grapevine Magazine, Schulte is one of the leading experts in researching collaborative approaches to handling smoke in the vineyard and winery.

Umpqua Valley AVA

  The topography of the Umpqua Valley is over 75 percent hills and mountains, which creates an extremely diverse climate and terroir. This area is known as “the land of a hundred valleys,” with three mountain ranges: Klamath, Coast and Cascades converging in the Umpqua Valley. This resulted in numerous ancient faults, folds and outcroppings, as well as 140 soil types, including silt, clay, sediments and alluvial dirt. This makes the valley one of the most diverse growing regions in the world, according to Terry Brandonborg of Brandborg Vineyard and Winery in Elkton.

  Overall, the Umpqua Valley tends to be wetter than the rest of Southern Oregon, with the northern part of the appellation typically receiving the most rain. Within this AVA, one finds the Red Hill Douglas County AVA and Elkton Oregon AVA, both of which are further north with a cooler climate. The Elkton Oregon AVA lies within the northwest corner of the Umpqua Valley and is closer to the ocean. At the same time, the Red Hill Douglas County AVA is comprised of a single vineyard consisting of rich volcanic soil from the ancient, uplifted seafloor that produces pinot noir and pinot gris wines.

  The overall climate is such that they can ripen bigger reds in the warmer areas of the Umpqua Valley, like Bordeaux and Rhône varieties, but still dry farm. Per Scott Kelley from Paul O’Brien Winery, who used to be the director of winemaking for Mondavi in California, “There is not another region in the U.S. that can lay claim to that.”

   Also, a growing number of Umpqua Valley wineries are exploring the sparkling side of wine, including Pet-nats, such as Brandborg Vineyard and Winery in Elkton, which produces alsace-inspired white wines along with pinot noir. After getting his garage bonded as a home occupation in 1986, Brandbog moved to a rented warehouse space in Richmond, California in 1990. After he connected with wine pioneers like Scott Henry of Henry Estate Winery, he and his wife, Sue, began looking for a cooler coastal climate in 2000. After moving here, Brandborg joined the board of the Oregon Winegrowers Association, which later became the Oregon Wine Board, and then served as president of the Umpqua Valley Winegrowers Association.

Marketing Southern Oregon Wines

  In Gerber’s estimation, the cooperation within the Oregon wine industry was extremely helpful to their historically small appellation. He found the marketing door opened for them with an “Oregon” appellation when they began selling in Canada, Japan and over 40 states. Along those lines, Wine Enthusiast named the Rogue Valley as one of five regions selected internationally as the wine region of the year in 2022. In recent years, the Rogue Valley Vintners and the Umpqua Valley Winegrowers Association have served as marketing organizations to bring awareness to the wines produced in Southern Oregon.

By: Alyssa L. Ochs

Various weather hazards put delicate wine grapes at risk, including hail, high winds, wildfires and droughts. Frost is another major issue in vineyards across the country, especially spring frosts that attack emerging shoots and buds when they are just beginning to form. The riskiest time, which requires strategic planning and advance preparation, is when bud break has occurred, but the frost risk has not yet passed.

  To address these cold-weather concerns and help vineyards protect their grapes from frost damage, industry experts weigh in to share their knowledge and provide guidance for a successful yield.

Types of Frost and the Risks

  Different kinds of frost can harm delicate grapevines depending on where a vineyard is located. Advection frosts occur when temperatures are below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and the wind is greater than 10 miles per hour. This type of frost happens with a weather front moves into an area, and cold, dry air replaces warmer air. Radiation frosts are associated with temperatures above 32 degrees Fahrenheit and calm winds. These frosts occur during clear skies and due to lost heat as radiant energy.

  Both weather patterns are problematic for vineyard operators and influence whether active frost protection methods are effective. Frost is a significant issue for vineyards because of the dangers of uneven ripening, decreased fruit quality and damage to an entire vintage in severe cases. Frosts can happen unexpectedly during the growing season and when grapes are dormant. Meanwhile, some types of grapes are more susceptible to frost damage than others.

Overview of Frost Protection Methods

  Frost protection methods are typically divided into two categories: active and passive. Active methods involve intentionally modifying the energy and climate of grapevines through wind machines, heaters, sprinklers and other measures. Overhead impact sprinklers, water micro-sprayers and cold air drains are other active methods to prevent frost damage.

  In contrast, passive frost protection methods do not require energy input or adjust the climate, instead focusing on strategies like cultivar and site selection, which must be considered before establishing a vineyard. Other passive approaches include looking at soil water content, cover crops and barrier management. A combined strategy with active and passive measures is often most effective in the vineyard, especially alongside good vineyard design, vineyard floor management, sprayable products and late pruning if necessary.

Professional Help with Frost Protection

  Fortunately, equipment manufacturers and specialty companies are available to help vineyards address their frost protection concerns. Since 1967, Orchard-Rite, a family-owned business, has engineered and built wind machines with precision technology. With its headquarters surrounded by vineyards, orchards and farms in Yakima, Washington, Orchard-Rite operates one main manufacturing and assembly plant and has supplied an estimated majority of wind machines and frost fans in operation worldwide.

  Shawn Miller, who leads sales and dealer support for Orchard-Rite, told The Grapevine how wind machines are an effective tool for protecting various crops from the damaging effects of frost and critical temperatures worldwide.

  “During radiation cooling nights, wind machines pull down warmer air and ventilate the growing area to prevent the pooling of cold air,” Miller said. “Most importantly, they provide air movement across the plant surfaces, which prevents them from supercooling. Even with a weak inversion layer or on clear, cold nights, Orchard-Rite machines substantially reduce the chance of supercooling.”

  Orchard-Rite serves customers with wind machines that protect against frost throughout North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Miller said these regions have special seasons that benefit from Orchard-Rite’s wind machines. For example, these machines help protect blooms from critical temperatures and frost in the spring, and they aid in drying the clusters and canopy of excess moisture in the summer. He said they also protect critical autumn temperatures when more time is needed before harvesting and during winter months when temperatures have fallen to the point of damaging or killing the vine.     

  “What makes us unique, is that we manufacture many of our wind machine parts, verses buying off-the-shelf-parts,” Miller said. “This gives growers the confidence in the quality of our equipment. As for the market share, warranty, product support, research and development and dealer support, we are by far the leader in the world market. With over 39,000 Orchard-Rite wind machines sold throughout the world, we have the longest proven track record, providing the best value, highest performing, quality wind machines with a worldwide dealer network to support parts, service and sales.” 

In addition to the products that Orchard-Rite provides, Miller told The Grapevine that other sources for frost protection can be used for supplementary heat, such as irrigation micro-sprinklers and fuel-burning devices.

  “Additionally, when supplementary heating is used with the wind machines, this can improve results of your protection,” he said.

  Another company that helps vineyards get a handle on their frost prevention tactics is Vigneron Toy Store, a Sutherland, Virginia-based business with products and services to assist vineyards with harvesting, spraying, canopy management, floor management, pre-pruning, leaf removal and frost mitigation. Kirk Thibault from Vigneron Toy Store told The Grapevine Magazine about how his company’s AgroFrost frost protection equipment is based on sublimation. He explained that this phase change of the water vapor releases energy into the bud and protects the crop from frost damage. He said these machines could protect with or without a thermal inversion down to 23 degrees Fahrenheit. 

  “AgroFrost machines are now in use throughout the world,” said Thibault. “They started in European orchards and have been protecting grapes, blueberries, apples and pears for many years. The tow-behind Frostbusters and stationary Frostguards are mobile and can adjust to changing conditions or changes to the vineyard. We have several differently sized units that can concentrate on individual blocks or entire fields depending on a growers needs.”

  Thibault told The Grapevine Magazine that something that makes this frost prevention solution unique is the fact that AgroFrost machines will recover your cost in one year’s potential fruit loss. 

  “No matter the weather conditions, our system works,” Thibault said. “Labor and start-up costs are far less than other systems, as one machine and operator can cover 15 to 20 acres and no further infrastructure is needed to operate the machine. At Vigneron Toy Store, we train you on every aspect of the machine and all operating procedures.”

Beyond the offerings at Vigneron Toy Store, Thibault said that promoting the vineyards’ natural environment to prevent frost is a helpful start.

  “Keeping grass short with bare ground under the vines helps return more ground heat to the vines,” he said. “It also allows better flow of warmer air across the vineyard. Wind machines and sprinkler systems also provide frost protection but require much higher infrastructure costs and can damage crops as well.”

  H.F. Hauff Company, Inc., based in Yakima, Washington manufactures the Chinook wind machine, which is popular among vineyards because one machine will cover up to 18 acres in a vineyard – 150 feet more than other competitive units. Dean Hauff from H.F. Hauff Company told The Grapevine Magazine that this product’s exclusive trailing edge wedge increases sector angle coverage to 80 degrees – a full 60 seconds of direction protection in the horizontal plane. He said warmer temperatures pull from higher up in the atmosphere in the vertical plane, raising temperatures more quickly on the vineyard floor. Another benefit he shared about the Chinook wind machine is its one-piece fan blade design, as air movement from the air foil starts 14 inches from the fan hub center with increased air movement directly under the fan. It’s also easy on fuel consumption (13.5 gallons of propane per hour or six gallons of diesel per hour), is competitively priced and comes standard with auto-start capabilities and a stainless-steel engine hood.

  “We are a conservative, family-owned business and have been in the agricultural manufacturing business for 58 years – 54 years directly involved in wind machines for frost protection,” Hauff said. “We were trained by the originators of the first wind machines and have grown up with the evolution of the wind machine from the ground up. Our quality manufacturing process is based on sound engineering principles and aerodynamics dedicated to our customer needs.”

  In addition to the Chinook wind machine, Hauff said that horticultural practices are an important tool in any overall frost protection strategy.

  “Besides wind machines, low emitter sprinklers work well,” Hauff said. “From grass to dry dirt, you can pick up one to two degrees, from dry dirt to wet dirt another one to two degrees. If possible, planting your vineyard rows with the natural drift will help by giving extended time before the cold air drain begins to back up. Also, planting on the higher ground will aid in delaying the frost. Frost is a lot like water because it flows to the low ground first and then begins to back up to the higher ground, freezing out the crop as it goes.”

Frost Strategy Management and Tips

  Many vineyard owners and managers are turning to high-tech solutions like weather stations, data monitoring and flow meters to manage frost protection in the vineyard. Yet some instances of frost damage are inevitable despite all the latest innovations. Therefore, it is vital to know the steps to manage the damage, including assessing injury to grapes after a frost and deciding whether to remove damaged parts of the plants or allow them to remain intact.

  Miller from Orchard-Rite offered some advice for vineyards looking to improve their frost prevention strategies this year.

  “It is very important not to wait until you are at a critical temperature to start your wind machine,” Miller said. “We recommend that if the forecast conditions are going to reach critical temperatures, farmers should start their wind machines three to four degrees Fahrenheit above the critical temperature for the crop being protected. Additionally, make sure that you have opened areas up that can trap or dam the cold air, such as fence lines full of debris.”

  Thibault from Vigneron Toy Store recommends determining the vineyard’s coldest area or most frost-sensitive variety and placing a Frost Alarm at the fruit level.

  “Our Frost Alarms provide cell phone warnings based on wet temperatures for the temperature you set,” Thibault said. “Frost doesn’t always happen at 32 degrees but can occur at 34 or 35 degrees sometimes. You should start to protect your vineyard slightly before the damage temperature. The most common mistake we see people make with any frost protection system is starting after damage has already happened.”

  Finally, Hauff from H.F. Hauff Company advised that those with no frost protection in place should seriously consider putting in a wind machine.

  “It is less labor-intensive than other options, operating costs are low and unit coverage can be great,” Hauff said. “In addition, a wind machine will keep on protecting your crop year after year.”

  For those with wind machines in place already, he said they should look at improving the efficiency of the systems currently in place. 

  “Upgrading your current wind machine is not out of the ordinary,” Hauff said. “Not all fan props are created equal. Many improvements have been made with regard to technological breakthroughs, aerodynamics, increased horsepower and increased performance. In the 1940’s, six to eight acres was the standard fan coverage. Today, the advanced aerodynamic features of the Chinook fan prop protect a full 15 to 18 acres. Matching your current fan and engine horsepower and replacing it with a properly sized Chinook fan will improve your fan coverage by roughly more two acres.”

Fast & Efficient Ways to Help Material Handling

By: Cheryl Gray

Before wine is bottled, labeled and ready to ship, wineries and vineyards have to shift large quantities of materials from one place to the next.

  The movement, storage and protection of these assets form an entire industry known as material handling. This industry sector performs a major role in ensuring the smooth operational flow of goods throughout wineries and vineyards. Its evolution includes automation and technology designed to prevent injuries, cut costs and boost productivity.

  Fortunately, there are companies, large and small, that can handle these critical tasks. Among them is Bishamon Industries Corporation, founded in 1986 to serve as the United States production arm for its parent company, Sugiyasu International Corporation.

  Bishamon works with wineries and vineyards of all sizes, from small boutique operations to large commercial establishments. It touts a line-up of products and options designed to offer solutions that meet clients’ specific needs, regardless of scale.

  It all happens at Bishamon’s 78,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Ontario, California, with a rooftop solar system generating more than 80 percent of the facility’s energy needs. In its early years, the company produced automotive lifts and imported material-handling equipment from Sugiyasu. By the 1990s, Bishamon introduced the Bishamon EZ Loader®, which the company says revolutionized the manual palletizing industry, winning awards such as Plant Engineering Product of the Year. The product is patented worldwide and has been awarded CE certification.

  Following the success of its EZ Loader®, Bishamon launched additional material handling products, including the UniLift, which the company describes as the only product of its kind to lift and transport a standard pallet without straddling it. There is also the  EZ X Loader®, which offers a new design that targets cost savings and greater flexibility in performance. Another product, the Lift Pilot®, is described as a one-of-a-kind floor-level pallet positioner. Brian Dedmon is the director of sales for the company.

“Bishamon can address the specific needs of wineries and vineyards by offering a range of equipment designed to improve efficiency, safety and productivity in the winemaking process,” Dedmon said. “Solutions include hydraulic lift tables, mobile lifters and pallet positioners. To help wineries and vineyards select the right equipment for their unique requirements, our team takes a consultative approach by assessing the customer’s needs and offering recommendations, training and support. By offering a diverse range of equipment and providing personalized support, Bishamon strives to be a trusted partner for wineries and vineyards, helping them optimize their material handling processes and achieve greater efficiency and success in their operations.”  

  Dedmon points to some key Bishamon products that wineries and vineyards can add to optimize production, reduce costs and enhance their products.

  “Three products wineries and vineyards can benefit immediately from are the implementation of hydraulic lift tables, mobile lifters and pallet positions in their work processes,” he said. “Bishamon’s hydraulic lift tables are ideal for lifting and positioning heavy wine barrels, crates and equipment. These versatile tools come in various sizes and weight capacities to suit different tasks in the winery, ensuring smooth and ergonomic material handling for easy maneuverability. Bishamon mobile lifters are perfect for moving materials within the winery or vineyard premises. They can assist with transporting grapes, bottles, and other items efficiently, minimizing the need for manual labor and reducing the risk of injuries. Bishamon’s pallet positioners enable winery workers to load and unload materials from pallets at comfortable heights, promoting efficient workflow and reducing strain on the worker.”

  Dedmon talks about some of the company’s most widely purchased products.

  “Our most popular products are the UniLift and the EZ Loader,” he said. “The Bishamon UniLift is the only two-in-one pallet positioner/lift on the market that works with closed-bottom pallets and skids. This unit utilizes a retractable outrigger operation that allows the user to pick up closed bottom pallets without the use of a straddle stacker. This allows the unit to be used in small areas where you need more maneuverability and versatility for pallet options. Our EZ Loader is one of the best self-leveling pallet positioners on the market. It utilizes a self-contained air system with an adjustable knob to allow the user to adjust the system without resetting the air pressure or the hassle of replacing springs like other brands. The EZ Loader will raise or lower as the user adds or takes off the product, keeping the working height at an ergonomic position.”

  Dedmon adds that the company has introduced an upgraded option to its UniLift product.

  “The UniLift is an all-in-one pallet transporter and positioner designed for transporting and lifting pallets,” he said. “It also serves as a dual-purpose tool by eliminating the need for a forklift or lift table in certain applications. Now, the customer may add a Power Assist Drive System that will significantly improve the ease of maneuverability and reduce operator fatigue.”

  It is possible to reduce fatigue through innovative solutions grounded in artificial intelligence. That is the mission ofAugean Robotics. The company has invented a robot platform it callsBurro, showcasing what the robot can do through collaborations designed to give grape-growers a peek at what autonomous farming can achieve. Augean Robotics has created a team of robotics experts with vast computer knowledge and seasoned entrepreneurs with years of experience selling high-tech farming machinery to build and market Burro.

  Burro deploys A.I. in vineyards to help grape growers maximize harvests. The robots act as carrying devices or can assist with harvesting fruit. According to the company, a Burro robot is typically paired with a team of six to eight workers and can help increase productivity anywhere from 10 to 50 percent, depending upon the vineyard layout, fruit volume and other variables. Burro can also assist in patrolling, scouting and capturing data. It can serve as a platform for tasks such as UV lighting to combat powdery mildew that can wreak havoc on vineyard crops. Augean Robotics can provide a CAD file to prospective clients to outline Burro’s shape and enable a potential buyer to model items and technologies that will customize a purchase.

  When wineries and vineyards need to transport products, Magline, Inc. can help. Based in Standish, Michigan, the company has been in business for over 75 years. It manufactures various material handling products, including its recently launched Magliner Powered Lifting Hand Truck. According to Magline, the product allows its users to lift easily and lower heavy loads of up to 200 pounds, which helps to prevent injuries. When used as a traditional hand truck, Magline says that its Powered Lifting Hand Truck provides a 500-pound overall load capacity with a design featuring many of the same components as other Magliner lightweight, aluminum hand trucks. The company adds that in some instances, one person using the product can do a job that would normally take two people.

  Another popular product series from Magline is the company’s line-up of LiftPlus® powered stackers. This product features user-friendly, one-hand controls and combines the functions of a walk-behind pallet jack with those of a lift truck. It is used to handle bulk materials in manufacturing, distribution, warehousing and other areas where large material handling is  required. Unlike forklifts, no operating license is needed, and the machinery helps to reduce injuries since it is powered to carry large loads.

  Experts agree that investment in proper material handling equipment pays off in real-time by helping to prevent on-the-job injuries, smoothing the transport of critical materials and automating processes that reduce labor costs. 

By: Kirk Williams, Lecturer-kirk.w.williams@ttu.edu

Lots of time is spent selecting products to control late season pests but how much time do we spend fine tuning our sprayer for these applications?  Late season spray applications can be critical in delivering clean fruit and keeping a functioning canopy post-harvest especially in areas where rainfall is common during the growing season.   Effective late season spray applications can be more difficult to achieve due to a larger and denser canopy.   

  Understanding spray coverage requires that you understand how droplets are created.  Hydraulic spray nozzles create a wide range of droplet sizes.   These droplets are measured in microns with droplets from 150 to 300 microns considered the most effective at being deposited in grapevine canopies when used with air blast sprayers.   Larger droplet sizes may bounce or roll off leaves while very fine droplets are more prone to drift.  Theoretical spray coverage based on average droplet diameter is 30% for 100-micron droplets, 15% for 200-micron droplets and 10.1% for 3300-microndroplets.  A greater number of spray droplets per unit area will have a higher probability of controlling the target pest. 

  Evaluating your spray coverage at any time of the season is critical but as the canopy gets larger and denser it becomes even more critical.  One way to evaluate spray coverage that requires minimal effort is with water sensitive cards placed in critical parts of the canopy such as the fruiting zone.  When spray droplets land on the water sensitive card, the card turns blue.   Water sensitive cards should be used when the humidity is below 80% and the canopy is dry because any moisture will turn them blue.  The water sensitive cards will react to moisture in your fingers, so be sure to wear waterproof gloves when placing the cards in the canopy.

  Spray coverage standards do not exist for control of specific insects or diseases.  Recommendations from Syngenta, one of the manufacturers of water sensitive cards, recommend 20-30 droplets/cm2 for insecticides and 50–70 droplets/cm2 for fungicide applications to provide satisfactory results.  A square centimeter is about 1/6 of a square inch.  The water-sensitive cards can be visually assessed for coverage through the provided viewing cards.  Visual observation can help you understand coverage and see droplet size, but it does not give you any numerical information that can be used to improve spray coverage.

  Water sensitive cards can be scanned and analyzed by computer programs such as the USDA’s ARS DepositScan.  The program gives you percentage coverage and deposits per cm2 .  While very accurate, this is a slow process and not well suited for the quick results needed for adjusting sprayers in the field. 

  Apps are now available that will quickly and easily analyze water sensitive cards for coverage.  SnapCard is an app that is available only for Android smart devices.  SmartSpray, is available for both iOS and Android smart devices. Developed for use in field crops such as strawberries, the spray card analysis portion of the SmartSpray app is a useful tool for analyzing percent coverage as well as accounting for small and large spray droplets.  

(Figure 1)

grapevine canopy was sprayed (Figure 1) and analyzed for spray coverage using the SmartSpray app (Figure 2).  The analysis from the SmartSpray app came back with 35% coverage with small droplets and 3% coverage with large droplets.  This quick analysis shows very good coverage for this application and within the range of what we would consider good coverage.   The SmartSpray app does not report droplets per cm2  so to confirm that our coverage number matched up to droplet number the same card analyzed by DepositScan. DepositScan reported 125 droplets per cm2 which is more than the target 50-70 droplets cm2 for fungicide applications.  The SmartSpray app can be a new tool to quickly analyze your spray coverage in the field when using water sensitive cards. 

(Figure 2)  

If your water sensitive cards indicate that you are not getting good coverage there are several ways to adjust your sprayer to improve coverage. 

Increase Air Flow

  Lower fan speeds may have been used in the early part of the growing season to reduce drift.  In the later part of the season many sprayers can be adjusted to increase fan speed.   For increased late season spray coverage in dense canopies, increasing the air flow may be the easiest way to improve coverage.   Deflectors that focus the air flow more horizontally or on the fruiting zone may also improve coverage.  Keep in mind that excessive air flow can increase drift by pushing the spray droplets past the canopy target.   Be sure to confirm coverage using water sensitive cards after increasing airflow. 

Change Sprayer Output

  Increasing sprayer output by decreasing forward speed or by using larger nozzles can improve spray coverage but it does require that you recalibrate your sprayer due to these changes.   A higher volume can improve coverage if your droplet coverage is low based on your water card analysis.  The target is still to have many small droplets in the canopy.   Too much volume can run spray droplets together and cause spray run off of the leaves. 

  There are many action items to do in a vineyard to keep it productive and produce high quality grapes.  Taking time during the season to check your sprayer coverage and then adjust as needed is one of those critical items.  Larger and denser canopies may require that you take the time to look at your coverage later in the season as well.  New and old tools are there to assist you in evaluating and improving your spray coverage. 

Sources:

Bettiga, L.J. ed. 2013.  Grape Pest Management (3rd edition).  Publication 3343. University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources.  Oakland, CA

Nansen, Villar, G. D., Recalde, A., Alvarado, E., & Chennapragada, K.  2021. Phone app to perform quality control of pesticide spray applications in field crops. Agriculture (Basel), 11(10), 916.

Landers, Andrew J., 2016.  Effective Vineyard Spraying (2nd Edition).   Effective Spraying.  Geneva, NY

Zhu, Heping; Salyani, Masoud; Fox, Robert D.  2011.  A portable scanning system for evaluation of spray deposit distribution.  Computers and electronics in agriculture, Vol.76 (1), p.38-43

Kirk Williams is a lecturer in Viticulture at Texas Tech University as well as being a commercial grape grower on the Texas High Plains.  He can be contacted at kirk.w.williams@ttu.edu

By: Alyssa L. Ochs

Choosing the right equipment is one of the most important decisions a vineyard owner will ever make, especially since heavy pieces of machinery are significant investments built to last for many years. Some companies that cater to the needs of vineyards specialize in just certain, niche types of equipment, while others are one-stop shops that offer nearly everything required to grow and harvest grapes for making wine.

  To help you narrow your options, here are five top companies offering vineyard equipment and what makes them stand out as suppliers in this industry.

Gearmore, Inc.: 24 Implements to Make Your Vineyard More Productive

  Gearmore, Inc. is an employee-owned business specializing in implements for the agricultural and light construction industries. Based in Chino, California, Gearmore has been in business for approximately 60 years and provides quality implements through servicing tractor dealers.

  Robert Giersbach, the marketing manager for Gearmore, told The Grapevine Magazine, “We have always placed a priority on vineyard implements due to the large acreage on the west coast. There are about 900,000 acres of vineyards in California, which includes table, raisin and the largest being 615,000 acres of wine grapes.”

  Since growing grapes requires many types of machinery, Gearmore offers 24 unique implements for vineyards in varying widths and capacities. These include vine trimmers, leaf removers, pre-pruners and multiple pieces of spraying equipment. Gearmore also offers compost spreaders, rotary tillers, soil conditioners, weeders, cultivators and numerous other options relevant to essential vineyard work.

  “The California vineyards are planted in row spacings from four to 12 feet, with six- and eight- foot rows now being the most popular. The coastal vines are using mainly trellis with vertical shoot positions, but the hotter Central Valley requires a trellis system, such as California sprawl, double cross arms or quad.”

Kingsburg Cultivator, Inc.: Durable Products with Replacement Parts

  Kingsburg Cultivator, Inc. was established near the small, rural town of Kingsburg, California in the 1950s as an agricultural equipment manufacturing and repair company. Chuck Norris from Kingsburg Cultivator said that his company offers a wide range of equipment and solutions for all seasons.

  “We specialize in berm management solutions, which include our products made in the central valley of California,” Norris said. “We also import equipment out of Italy known as Orizzonti. Within our berm management division, we have mowers, blades, discs, sweeps, tillers, paddles and string weeders. We have single-sided and double-sided frames that we can mount in either the front or rear front or rear of the tractor based on the needs of the customer.”

  KCI’s pruning division offers various pre-pruning solutions available in both single and double-sided frames. These options include sickle bars, disc pruners and high-speed skirters with many adjusting configurations available year-round.

  “Our Orizzonti line offers different length shredders as well,” Norris said. “You can interchange flail blades or hammers in any of the shredders we offer. Our spreader division consists of vineyard models and has interchangeable attachments for different applications. We offer a KCM 58 and KCM512 with bander and spinner attachments. The spreader dimensions are five inches wide by eight inches long and five inches wide by 12 inches long. The banding configuration comes in five-, six- and eight-inch lengths. Our supersealed bander allows little to no loss in product.”

  KCI has been a manufacturer of vineyard equipment for over 65 years, starting with a belt drive skirter that operated off the crankshaft of the tractor. Since then, the company has stood out because of the quality of its products, outstanding service and replacement parts on hand.

  “Since the beginning of time, we at KCI have had a high expectation of product quality and durability, and we stand behind our products,” Norris said. “Customer and field service also is what sets us apart from other similar businesses. With our experienced office and shop staff, we can help our customers timely and efficiently. KCI makes sure to prepare and have replacement parts on the shelf ready for when our customers are in need. We understand that downtime is a very costly expense and always keep the customers’ best interests in mind. With us being a fabrication shop, in some cases, we can even build parts for equipment other than ours if our customer isn’t able to find the part needed. We also do field repairs of our equipment for our customers with service trucks and skilled technicians if we can’t diagnose and troubleshoot the problem over the phone.”

New Holland Agriculture: Grape Harvesters & Tractors Just for Vineyards

  New Holland Agriculture, a subsidiary of CNH Industrial, brings over 125 years of experience to the industry and serves vineyards with specialty tractors and grape harvesters. Tanner Cady, a viticulture marketing specialist for specialty tractors and harvesters at the company, told The Grapevine that New Holland Agriculture’s specialty tractors come in various ranges for horsepower, width, height and traction style, specifically the T4F/V, T3F and TK4 models.

  “Wine grapes range in row spacings from 3.5 feet to 11 feet,” Cady said. “We have three different tractor widths – 42 inches (T4V), 55 inches (T3F) and 63 inches (T4F) –  to fit those applications. In most scenarios, height is not a problem like it is for table grapes. And depending on the size of the operation, you can choose between 80, 90, 100 or 110 horsepower for the T4F/V and 60, 70 and 80 horsepower for the T3F.

  New Holland has a tractor built for vineyards planted on steep hillsides, too, the TK4 Crawler.

  “This tractor is available in different horsepowers, widths and heights,” Cady said. “Depending on producers’ applications, they may want one with or without a cab, one that is 46 inches wide or 70 inches wide or lastly, one with only 80 horsepower versus 100 horsepower. The T3F also has a very low center of gravity that makes it useful on hillsides, too.”

  New Holland Agriculture’s grape harvesters are available for row widths of 3.5, 4.5, 5.5 and 7.5 feet. The horsepower ranges are from 128 to 182, and three different cleaning styles are available: straight to tank, destemmer and Opti-Grape.

  “Straight to tank is our most basic way of removing mog,” Cady said. “This is made up of two to four fans. Those fans are standard with all other forms of cleaning. Destemmer is our mid-range form of cleaning. It acts as a sieve while forcing grapes to fall through a mesh belt. It then collects the leaves, wood and anything else that isn’t a grape to continue down the belt and over the back of the machine onto the ground. While destemming, it also breaks up the clusters and collects the rakis while directing the grapes to the hopper. Opti-Grape is our premium sorter. This is done with what we call an ‘Air Knife.’ It uses pressurized air to discharge everything other than grapes out the side of the machine, leaving a nearly perfect sample in the hopper that is ready for the winery and requires no additional sorting at the winery.”

  New Holland is unique in the industry because it is the only manufacturer to make grape harvesters and tractors under the same umbrella.

  “Also, both our harvesters and tractors run FPT engines,” Cady said.” “This is particularly important when it comes to harvesters. Other grape harvester manufacturers run a third-party engine that requires separate technicians from those who will service the harvester itself — one unit and two technicians for servicing. With the New Holland grape harvesters, our technicians are trained on both the engine and the harvesting mechanisms, meaning we can service both in the same visit.”

Kubota Tractor Corp.: Reliable Tractors and a Knowledgeable Dealer Network

  Kubota Tractor Corp. introduced its first tractor to the U.S. in 1969 and has expanded to offer many products today, such as utility vehicles, lawn mowers, construction equipment, agriculture tractors and hay equipment. Erik Lisitza, Kubota’s product manager for specialty tractors, told The Grapevine that his company offers various power units and implements for the vineyard market.

  “Kubota’s M Narrow Series tractors, which includes the M4N and M5N, are offered in both open station and cab models with three horsepower ranges and multiple transmission options, in addition to the M5N Power Krawler Narrow CAB half-track model,” Lisitza said. “Our implements for mowing, seeding and tillage are offered through our Land Pride brand.”

  Kubota introduced its second-generation M5 Narrow Series at the exhibitor grounds at the World Ag Expo in February 2023, which includes two new models, the M5N-112 and the M5N-092. The durable workhorse tractor users have come to rely upon remains at the core of these latest models. However, updated comfort features and visibility enhancements are now available while using them among the rows and vines.

  “Our consistent offering and being known for our simple and reliable tractors is what makes Kubota stand out as a provider of vineyard equipment,” Lisitza said. “Our knowledgeable dealer network works and lives where the vineyards are, and they know their customers and the specific needs of their industry.”

Jacto Inc.: A Sprayer Specialist with a Global Presence

  Headquartered in Tualatin, Oregon, Jacto Inc. offers high-tech products and innovative solutions for the agricultural industry and has a presence in over 100 countries. Jacto has a history that dates back over 75 years and has plants and offices in Argentina, Brazil, Thailand and Mexico.

  Walter Mosquini, Jacto’s international sales manager, told The Grapevine that the primary sprayers that his company sells to vineyards are the airblast sprayers. Jacto offers 13 different models of airblast sprayers ranging from 50 gallons to 1,000 gallons. 

  “We also offer a mini-tower kit for four different models to provide even better coverage to the crop. The other type of sprayer the vineyard market buys from Jacto is a hooded herbicide sprayer to spray weeds between the rows while protecting the crops from chemical drift.”

  Mosquini said that Jacto is unique as a vineyard equipment provider because of its global presence and long history in the industry.

  “We offer many models of sprayers, from hobby vineyard operators to extensive corporate vineyards,” he said. “Our sprayers are built to withstand the heavy use found in commercial farming. Our Arbus 200 sprayer can be operated with an 18-horsepower tractor, keeping the tractor and sprayer cost at a minimum.”

Choosing Equipment for Your Vineyard

  Each of these companies has something unique to offer vineyards, and the industry leaders who work for them can provide helpful advice for choosing new equipment to grow grapes.

  Giersbach from Gearmore said, “When asked by growers what equipment they may need, we ask about the row width, tractor model and what operation and outcome they hope to achieve. Yet established growers usually know exactly what they need and do not require our input.”

  Cady from New Holland Agriculture recommends buying equipment that does not run a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).

  “You will only find this with New Holland equipment; we maintain a low carbon footprint without the need for a DPF,” Cady said. “Also, consider your acreage, terrain, row spacing and yield when choosing a harvester or tractor. Those play considerable factors in the make-up of the equipment a producer will need to purchase.”

  Mosquini from Jacto shared his company’s sprayer selection guide with The Grapevine, a guide designed to help vineyards determine the model of sprayer that will work best for their needs. The guide addresses 12 essential factors to consider, starting with the type of crop, the number of acres to be sprayed, the typical galloon sprayed per acre and pump capacity. Tractor speed, row spacing, crop height, turning area and crop density are other factors to consider.

  Lisitza from Kubota advises vineyard owners looking to buy new equipment to talk with a local dealer for the best advice before making a major purchase.

  “They know our equipment, and they know your business and the vineyard market. Their knowledge can help you get into the right piece of equipment for your operation,” he said.

  Norris from KCI advises prospective customers to do their homework and ensure their fields are set up properly to run the equipment they are trying to purchase.

  “Make sure to include photos, videos, row spacings, type of field and irrigation techniques to ensure the mechanized equipment won’t damage or cause more issues than your current practices,” Norris said. “If your field is not set up correctly but you want to move to more mechanized techniques, make changes to your field before the purchase. Also, make sure the company supports your equipment with service and parts availability. The sense of assurance when your equipment malfunctions or is damaged and parts are a call away is priceless. Reliability is very important for the product you plan to buy as well. Do research into the company producing the machine of interest. This can include looking at reviews and comments on Google, asking current owners of the machine and going to see the machine run in the field for yourself.”

By: Judit Monis, Ph.D. – Vineyard and Plant Health Consultant

My experience working with tissue culture techniques on grapevine dates from my first job (after my post-doctoral fellowship at UC Berkeley) at Agritope, Inc., a biotechnology company that was based in Oregon.  The company owned a grapevine nursery and I was hired to start a disease testing and eradication program for their elite clones and varieties. 

  More recently, I have produced tissue culture plants from heritage Cabernet Sauvignon clones that were acclimated and planted in California vineyards.   This spring (Argentina’s fall) I spent over a month working at a biotechnology company in Mar del Plata in Buenos Aires province.  The laboratory is interested primarily in the micropropagation of different plant species such as garlic, kiwi, fruit, and ornamentals crops.  Recently the lab started working with woody plants such as grapevines and invited me to spend time working and training their staff on grapevine tissue culture and diagnostic techniques.

Plant Tissue Culture

  Plant tissue culture technology (growing plants in vitro) can be used for the quick propagation of grapevines but also is a technique that is used for the elimination of plant pathogens (disease causing agents). The propagation material may start in a greenhouse using either dormant grapevine cuttings or in the lab using nodal sections (portions of a shoot with at least a bud) from an actively growing plant. 

  In the laboratory, a process called surface sterilization is used to remove external bacterial or fungal species that can affect plant growth in culture. The cleaning process involves treating the nodal portions of the vine in a detergent and bleach solution. 

  After this process, the nodal sections are placed in a special media that contains nutrients and hormones that sustains plant growth.  These plants are grown in sterile (autoclaved or baked) vessels at ideal light and temperature conditions. This process is known as plant tissue culture initiation.  All the work is done under aseptic conditions in a laminar flow hood that keeps the environment clean and free of airborne microorganisms. If the purpose of initiating plants in tissue culture is the elimination of plant pathogens, the meristematic tissue from each of the plants can be isolated.

Plant Meristem Isolation

  The plant meristem is a portion of the plant with cells that has not differentiated into specialized tissues (e.g., leaves, stems, roots) and are capable of producing a new plant (the tissue is totipotent). The meristematic tissue is also responsible for keeping the plant growing. The advantage of using the apical (the uppermost meristem dome) is that the vascular tissue has not been differentiated and it is expected that viruses (or other pathogens) are not yet present in an infected plant.  By isolating the smallest possible meristematic tissue (generally the meristem dome plus a couple of leaf primordia), and growing it in tissue culture, it is expected that the new plant that is regenerated will be free of pathogens.  The meristem tissue culture technique has been used for decades to produce healthy grapevine plants as well as plants from many other species. The smaller the meristem (0.1- 0.3 mm), the higher is the chance of viral elimination.  However, these small meristems are more difficult to regenerate.  The trick is to isolate many meristems of various sizes (0.1 – 0.5 mm) and test each regenerated plant to determine if the pathogens that were present in the original plant were eliminated.  Because of the small size of the meristems, the work must be done using fine dissecting tools with the aid of a dissecting microscope under aseptic conditions.  Research in my laboratory has shown that tissue culture plants have a higher virus concentration than plants grown in greenhouse or field.  Therefore, the testing of plants to determine their virus status, can start very early in the process, collecting small amounts of tissue during the first transfer to fresh media.

Plant Growth and Propagation

  Once a clone is obtained (always best to produce more than one) that has tested free of the pathogens of interest, the plant propagation starts.  Once the regenerated plants are grown, these must be transferred to fresh media regularly (every 3-4 weeks) to replenish nutrients.  With each transfer it is possible to produce 5-6 new micro-propagated plants.  At some point the plants will be transferred to the greenhouse to be acclimated.  Because there would be a shock for the plants to be moved from the pampered conditions in test tubes, initially the plants must be grown under misting conditions.  In the growth chamber or greenhouse, the humidity must be kept very high to allow the plants to acclimate as they were “spoiled” growing in culture media.  Up to this point, the plants were grown in a clean environment to ensure that pathogens or environmental contaminants were not present. The plants will continue to grow in the greenhouse up to a certain point and brought to the nursery to further propagate and/or start the grafting process.  Because the potential of re-infection, it is important that plants are always protected.  This is accomplished by potting the plants in clean soil and growing in a greenhouse or screenhouse with a mesh that offers insect protection.

Virus Detection and Evaluation of Candidate Selections

  Many vineyards and wineries are interested in propagating their own heritage selections or clones.  In some instances, these clones were introduced hundreds of years ago by families who immigrated from Europe.  At that time, quarantine and plant introduction programs were not as reliable as they are presently.  Consequently, many of the imported grapevine plant material carried important and deleterious pathogens.  In addition, over the years of being planted in the field, even healthy vines may become infected with numerous pathogens due to the spread of pathogens from vineyard to vineyard.

  Every project starts with the testing of the plant material the grower wishes to treat.  Based on the results, the laboratory can opt to apply meristem tissue culture or other disease elimination techniques.  Thermotherapy (heat treatment) and cryotherapy (cold treatment) are other methods that have been described and can be used in combination with meristem tissue culture and micropropagation.  But by far, the meristem tissue culture is the most applied method when it comes to disease elimination for grapevines.  This is because the meristem tissue culture is a technique widely accepted by growers.  Although, thermotherapy is a very old and successful method, some growers do not accept its use as they are suspicious that deleterious mutations can occur in the plant material.  This concept has not been scientifically proven though.

  Although generally, the meristem tissue culture technique is applied for viral elimination, a bonus result is the eradication of pathogenic bacteria and fungi.  Because disease diagnostics have been covered in other articles I wrote, I only summarized here.  Basically, the same methods that are used to detect pathogens in the field are used for the detection of viruses (or other pathogens) in tissue culture.  The material being tested however, is always actively growing tissue culture plants.  It is important to test the plants as soon as there is enough plant material and is generally done during the first transfer to fresh culture media (the best conservative sample are leaves with attached petioles).  Because this type of tissue is sensitive to wilting (spoiling) it is important to coordinate testing with the laboratory to assure that the samples arrive in good conditions. The early testing will allow the laboratory to discard the clones that test positive for a pathogen of interest and only propagate those that are not infected.

Conclusions

  The use of tissue culture propagation and meristem culture for disease eradication offers an advantage: the nursery will be starting with a clean product (not only virus tested but likely free of bacterial and fungal pathogens), grown under aseptic conditions.  To preserve, this health status, it is important that plants are moved into a hermetic greenhouse (or screenhouse with small mesh) with mitigation practices to avoid the entrance of insect vectors and /or pathogens.  Finally, the plants must be moved to a screened area in the field (preferably isolated from other grapevine growing vineyards).

  There might be concerns from the industry that tissue culture plants could have juvenile traits (take too long or never produce fruit).  These are valid concerns and the issue varies from variety to variety or even among different clones of the same variety.  There are however growing techniques that can be applied at the nursery to avoid juvenility traits from happening.

  The slogan from the National Clean Plant Network is to “Start clean, stay clean”.  It is important to have nursery programs that produce the cleanest (disease tested) material.  However, if the plants are grown carelessly, likely these plants will become reinfected.  Therefore, my hope is that this article will provide guidelines to allow the planting material to remain clean after the effort and expense of subjecting the material to disease elimination treatments.

  Judit Monis, Ph.D. provides specialized services to help growers, vineyard managers, and nursery personnel avoid the propagation and transmission of disease caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses in their vineyard blocks.   Judit (based in California) is fluent in Spanish and is available to consult in all wine grape growing regions of the word.  Please visit juditmonis.com for information or contact juditmonis@yahoo.com to request a consulting session at your vineyard.