Negotiation Tips for Winegrape Growers

Grape growers are expected to be competent at a wide-ranging of tasks.  For example, they have to be good at equipment maintenance, pruning, labor relations and finances, to list but a few of the skills that are necessary to succeed as a grower. Of all the skills that...

In the Vineyard with Paul Verdegaal

The 2015 Harvest came to a close by the second week of October.  Harvest began on the earliest date that most anyone can remember. It is an interesting year to say the least, but there have been previous harvest starts in July.   Let’s look back on some local...

Red Blotch Virus Update from ICVG

I had the great pleasure of attending the 18th International congress on viruses of the grapevine (ICVG) held on September 7-11 in Ankara, Turkey. Every three years, ICVG brings together the world’s best and brightest minds to report on the cutting-edge frontier...

Laboratory Testing for Grapevine Diseases

Some grapevine diseases can be identified easily in the field by signs of the pathogen, which include microscopic and macroscopic microbial cells, tissues, and structures. For example, the appearance of the powdery mildew fungus on the surface of infected leaves and...

Comprehensive Vineyard Water Management

Those of us involved in agriculture are well aware of the increasing concerns about water in California. Even before the current drought, new water regulations were in the works, irrigation district water costs were increasing, and in many locations, access to...

Visual ID of Winegrape Viruses

Visual identification of grapevine red blotch associated virus (GRBaV) may be a useful complement to lab testing of tissue samples. While not meant to replace the results from lab tests, visual identification may prove to be a useful method for quickly and cheaply...