Beth Wonson, Founder & CEO of Beth Wonson and Company shares her wisdom about communication in the workplace. The discussion explores how to give feedback or ask questions of employees, listening with empathy, developing our workforce, and the role anger plays in poor communication. Her examples and insights will strike a chord in anyone who has been either an employee or a manager. References: A Culture of Sustainability: Scheid Vineyards | Vineyard Team (Podcast) Beth Wonson & Company ...
Jun 21, 2018•44 min•Ep. 38
Jackie Dresser, Viticulture Extension Support Specialist at the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program talks about why estimating vineyard yields is so difficult and the methods she and her team are experimenting with to reach the Holy Grail of estimates that are within five percent of the final harvest. In part two of this two part interview, Jackie explored the golden question: how many samples and how big. She talks about how they sought a reasonable sample size and the future of crop estimation. R...
Jun 07, 2018•23 min•Ep. 37
Jackie Dresser, Viticulture Extension Support Specialist at the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program talks about why estimating vineyard yields is so difficult and the methods she and her team are experimenting with to reach the Holy Grail of estimates that are within five percent of the final harvest. In part one of this two part interview, Jackie explains the Lake Erie region and program, why crop estimation is important depending on who you are in supply chain, the standard techniques, or lack of...
May 17, 2018•28 min•Ep. 36
Bart Haycraft, Vineyard Manager, Jackson Family Wines Los Alamos describes some of the techniques he for managing vineyard pests in his vineyards including cultivation, pheromones, beneficial insect releases, cover cropping, weather information, and scouting. References: 2: The Goldilocks Principle & Powdery Mildew Management | Michelle Moyer (podcast) 6: Fungicide Resistance in Grapes: Grower Perspective | Bart Haycraft and Others (podcast) 11: Putting the “I” Back in Vineyard IPM | Peter G...
May 03, 2018•22 min•Ep. 35
Living near a vineyard is desirable to many people. Also, development pressure is pushing housing into areas which have traditionally been solely agricultural. This leads to conflicts over noise, dust, and trespassing. Deputy Agricultural Commissioner of San Luis Obispo County Marc Lea and George Donati, General Manager of Pacific Vineyard Company, discuss the types of conflicts between growers and their residential neighbors in San Luis Obispo county and some of the creative, respectful, and su...
Apr 19, 2018•25 min•Ep. 34
Growing grapes in Michigan is fraught with challenges, from sub-zero temperatures in the winter to high humidity in the summer. Chantal Lefevbre of WaterFire Vineyards talks about how she manages her vineyards in a sustainable way despite these challenges. As an environmental scientist who changed careers to become a winegrower, Chantal wanted to ensure her farming practices protected the lakes and frogs around her. She chose to certified her vineyard with SIP Certified as a reflection of her de...
Apr 04, 2018•18 min•Ep. 33
Irrigation is just one of many things on a grower’s mind on any given day. To help growers conserve irrigation water in vineyards, Vineyard Team has launched a project to investigate how growers make decisions to adopt agricultural water BMPs given the competition of other management areas for the same scarce resources. Agricultural consultant Jacob Hernandez of JH Ag Consulting and Craig Macmillan, Technical Program Manager for Vineyard Team, discuss the Agricultural Water BMP Adoption project....
Mar 15, 2018•26 min•Ep. 32
Peter Work, Owner, Winemaker, and Vineyard Manager at Ampelos Cellars recounts how becoming a certified organic vineyard led to becoming Demeter® biodynamic certified and eventually SIP Certified®. He explains the similarities and differences between the three certifications and how that helps him farm in a way that promotes and protects the planet, his profits, and the people who work for him. References: Ampelos Cellars Demeter® Association, Inc. Organic Pest Control in Vineyards Episode 14 | ...
Mar 01, 2018•26 min•Ep. 31
Lino Bozzano, Vice President of Vineyard Operations at Laetitia Vineyard & Winery, explains how they graze goats and sheep to reduce the risk of fire, prevent weeds from establishing, and improve the health of grasslands as part a holistic approach to managing their 600 plus acre estate. References: 21: Investing in Sustainable Ag Research | Stacie Clary (podcast) Conservation Plan Template Ecological Pest Management | Dr. Craig Macmillan Laetitia Vineyard & Winery SIP Certified Listen t...
Feb 15, 2018•21 min•Ep. 30
The Agricultural Worker Protection Standard is a set of U.S. EPA regulations designed to protect workers from exposure to pesticides. In January 2018, new regulations came into effect. Amy Wolfe, President/CEO of AgSafe discusses changes to the Worker Protection Standard including worker training, decontamination, and emergency response training. References: AgSafe California Department of Pesticide Regulation Worker Protection Program S. EPA Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Listen to the...
Feb 01, 2018•30 min•Ep. 29
This podcast is an excerpt of the talk Dr. Charlotte Decock delivered at the 2017 Sustainable Ag Expo on understanding soil health - what soil health is, how to increase it, and how to measure it. Dr. Decock is an Assistant Professor Cal Poly - Earth & Soil Sciences. Charlotte Decock holds a faculty position in soil health and fertility at Cal Poly. Her teaching and research focus on sustainable fertilizer and soil management in California’s specialty crops. She earned a Ph.D. in Soils and B...
Jan 18, 2018•26 min•Ep. 28
This podcast is an excerpt of the talk Dr. Kent Daane delivered at the 2017 Sustainable Ag Expo. Although Dr. Daane has laboratories on the Berkeley Campus and at the Kearney Ag Center in Parlier, much of his work is conducted in the vineyard. Recognized as one of the foremost experts in California on this controlling mealybug vectors of grapevine viruses, he shares the findings from some of his most recent research from the field. References: IPM Control of Vine Mealybug | Greg Pennyroyal, Vine...
Dec 21, 2017•23 min•Ep. 26
Integrated Pest Management means many things to many people. In this excerpt from the 2016 Sustainable Ag Expo , Dr. Pete Goodell, Cooperative Extension Advisor with the University of California, reviews the history of IPM and what is IPM as a philosophy and practice. References: NRCS Service Centers in California Putting the I Back Into IPM | Pete Goodell (Podcast) Putting the I Back in IPM Presentation | Pete Goodell Sustainable Ag Expo UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program Listen to...
Dec 21, 2017•13 min•Ep. 27
Dr. Justine Vanden Heuvel, Associate Professor of Viticulture at Cornell University, describes how controlling vine vigor is difficult in regions with high organic matter soils and plentiful summer rain. Growing certain cover crops in the vine row can devigorate vines by as much as 30%. Others do not devigorate vines, but do keep soil in place. In vineyards on slopes under-vine cover crops can reduce or eliminate the need for herbicide applications preventing the off-site movement of soil, pesti...
Dec 07, 2017•16 min•Ep. 25
Paul Crout is a licensed Pest Control Advisor and Certified Crop Advisor with over 15 years of experience in managing multiple crops including winegrapes. Paul explains why keeping records of water and Nitrogen use in the vineyard is important and how to use that information to best manage your crop. References: Best Management Practices for Nitrogen Fertilization of Grapevines | Bill Peacock and Donna Hirschfelt Example Calculations Using a Fertilizer Label (Video) Paul Crout | Vineyard Profess...
Nov 16, 2017•11 min•Ep. 24
Chandra Krintz, Ph.D., Professor of Computer Science, University of California Santa Barbara talks about the SmartFarm vision to bring the same kinds of data analytics and prediction systems that are working well in other sectors of the economy to agriculture. Data from sensors and devices can be coupled with historical data to make more informed farming decisions by considering many variables at once. References: 13: High Tech Tools in the Vineyard Episode | Doug Beck (Podcast) Dr. Krintz’s UCS...
Nov 02, 2017•31 min•Ep. 23
Many factors influence the number of people coming to the U.S. to work including the cost and danger of crossing the border and improved economic conditions in Mexico. Dr. Philip Martin, Ph.D. Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics- UC Davis, discusses some of the reasons there are not enough workers to meet the demand for farm laborers in California. References: Immigration and Farm Labor - Dr. Phillip Martin, (Video from 2016 Sustainable Ag Expo) President Trump and U.S. Migration af...
Oct 19, 2017•19 min•Ep. 22
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) is a grant program of the U.S.D.A. to find solutions to problems identified by growers. By providing funding to growers for original research, demonstrations, and other projects new sustainable innovations are discovered and promoted. Western SARE Communications Manager Stacie Clary discusses the program and some of its many successes. References: 20: Dr. Mark Fuchs | Red Blotch Virus in Grapevines (podcast) Conventional vs. GMO-free Broilers...
Oct 05, 2017•18 min•Ep. 21
Dr. Marc Fuchs researches the biology and ecology of the Grapevine Red Blotch associated Virus. His work investigates the transmission and spread of the virus, its possible vectors, how the virus affects vines, and optimal management strategies. References: A Long and Winding Road: The Discovery of the Red Leaf A Long and Winding Road: The Discovery of the Red Leaf Viruses, the Leaf Rolls and Red Blotch - Deborah Golino, Sustainable Ag Expo 2015 Presentation A Short History of Red Blotch Disease...
Sep 21, 2017•16 min•Ep. 20
The California Department of Food and Agriculture appropriated funds to develop and administer a new incentive and demonstration program from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The objective of this new Healthy Soils Program is to build soil carbon and reduce agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. References: CDFA’s Healthy Soils Program CalCAN COMET-Planner- GHG reduction and carbon sequestration calculator PowerPoint slides from Jenny Lester Moffitt’s talk at the 2016 Sustainable Ag Expo...
Sep 07, 2017•19 min•Ep. 19
NDVI imagery is analyzed by software which tells the grower where to go in the vineyard to take samples that will best represent the ripeness of the crop. This method could save tremendous amounts of time and generates much smaller samples for processing. References: Video of Dr. Vanden Heuvel explaining the project Justine Vanden Heuvel’s web page Listen to the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops an...
Aug 17, 2017•9 min•Ep. 18
Sour rot is a disease complex composed of various yeast, fungi, and bacteria that ferment grape juice released from wounded berries. Megan Hall has demonstrated that the symptoms of sour rot will only develop when fruit flies ( Drosophila spp.) are present. Spraying antimicrobial materials with an insecticide weekly from 15° Brix until harvest has shown success at stopping the advance of sour rot. References: Megan Hall’s Cornell University Page Summer Bunch Rot (Sour Rot) Pest Management UC IPM...
Aug 03, 2017•26 min•Ep. 17
A look at the history of Pierce’s Disease and what is being done today to manage this pest in the Temecula Valley. Matt Daugherty is Cooperative Extension Specialist, Department of Entomology, UC Riverside where he studies applied population ecology and provides outreach on the ecology and management of invasive insects. Dr. Daugherty gives some history and context for the glassy-winged sharpshooter monitoring and control program in Riverside County. Greg Pennyroyal, Vineyard Manager, Wilson Cre...
Jul 20, 2017•17 min•Ep. 16
Greg Pennyroyal, Vineyard Manager at Wilson Creek Winery and Vineyards in Temecula, California, discusses the appearance of vine mealybug in the Temecula Valley AVA, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, and how growers, academics, extensionists, and students came together to collectively monitor and manage this pest. References: San Jacinto College Vine Mealy Bug Video Sustainable and Organic Control of Vine Mealybug: Two Growers, Two Approaches Suterra “ Vine Mealybug Flares Up in Centr...
Jul 06, 2017•17 min•Ep. 15
Farming organically has many benefits, but growing winegrapes organically has special challenges. Hear how Julian Malone, Director of Vineyard Operations at Sea Smoke Vineyards uses organic pest management practices in the vineyards. References: Sea Smoke Vineyards Mechanical Cultivation Video- Steel in the Field UC Statewide IPM Weed Management in Organic Vineyards Listen to the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resourc...
Jun 15, 2017•18 min•Ep. 14
Doug Beck, Science Advisor for Monterey Pacific Inc. in Monterey County, talks about the different types of technology including dendrometers, multi-spectral imaging, ArcGIS, Time-Domain Reflectrometry, iPhones, and more. References: California Irrigation: Verizon, ITK Team Up with 3 Vineyards for Affordable Solution Ceres CropTrak Monterey Pacific, Inc. Ranch Systems Terravion Tule Technologies VineMetrics Listen to the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since...
Jun 01, 2017•19 min•Ep. 13
Greg Gonzalez, Director of Vineyard Operations at Scheid Vineyards, discusses the ins and outs of sustainability practices including economic investment in the community, resource conservation, and pesticide reduction. References: What is Sustainable Agriculture? Scheid Vineyards Chispa Housing SIP Certified- sustainable winegrowing Listen to the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstr...
May 18, 2017•15 min•Ep. 12
Integrated Pest Management means many things to many people. In this excerpt from the 2016 Sustainable Ag Expo , Dr. Pete Goodell reviews the status of IPM in California, the barriers to increasing its use, discusses concepts and perceptions, and makes the case that IPM is a critical tool to address multiple issues facing our sustainable food production system. References: UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program Putting the "I" Back in IPM Presentation | Pete Goodell NRCS Service Centers...
May 04, 2017•17 min•Ep. 11
Weeds can compete with young vines and are hosts for some vineyard pests. Grant Cremers describes how he controls weeds through a combination of under-vine cultivation and herbicides at San Bernabe Vineyards. Topics include herbicide resistant weeds, reasons to avoid pre-emergent herbicides, cover crops for weed suppression, and the benefits of controlling weeds mechanically. References: Cover crops for weed management Steel in the Field: A Farmer’s Guide to Weed Management Tools Steel in the Fi...
Apr 20, 2017•13 min•Ep. 10
Dr. Timothy Miles discusses the prevalence of powdery mildew populations found to be resistant to FRAC group 11 fungicides. He then describes his work on finding the genes associated with resistance to FRAC group 11 fungicides and developing new molecular tools to identify fungicide resistant powdery mildew populations. References: Detection of Fungicide Resistant Mildew | Timothy Miles Inoculum Monitoring to Guide Mildew Management_Episode 5 Podcast Grower Thoughts on Fungicide Resistance_Episo...
Apr 06, 2017•21 min•Ep. 9
