NEWSLETTER
July 2017
Driving research to maximize the productivity, sustainability and competitiveness
 of the American grape industries.



THE THRILL OF PURSUIT

Researchers are a rare breed: skilled at and even energized by the quest for knowledge.
 
Having had the opportunity to attend two of the industry's most research-oriented events--the American Society of Enology and Viticulture's national and Eastern Section conferences--I was struck by the range and depth of the questions scientists across the industry are working on. The posters alone (shown above at the national conference) were awe-inspiring. As was the passion of the people pursuing projects that will advance the industry, whether through improved understanding, better practices, higher efficiency or quality, or all of the above.
Our own NGWI Research Theme Committees have begun the process of identifying areas where more work is needed. Some of the committee members are scientists; others are industry members with a clear perspective on grape-related issues. In brainstorming meetings, the teams are working through ideas for game-changing research that is national in scope and serves all grape industries, tackling problems that are larger than any one sector could adequately address on its own. It's a tall order. But it's important work...and, somehow, fun. Because people who care about research seem to believe that, where there's a question, there's bound to be an answer. The fun is in finding it!

Donnell Brown
President
In This Issue
AROUND THE INDUSTRY

INDUSTRY INPUT: FARM BILL 2018

As Farm Bill 2014 approaches its expiration at the end of 2018, agriculture groups across the U.S. are providing input on extending and improving the measure. The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, in which NGWI participates, has drafted comprehensive recommendations as proposed by specialty crop interests, and plans to finalize and send them to Congress next month.

Meanwhile, the House Agriculture Committee has scheduled Farm Bill listening sessions in the next 30 days in Texas, Minnesota, California and Illinois-see schedule below and/or on the House Ag Committee website:
  • Monday, July 31, 1 p.m. Central Time - Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas
  • Thursday, August 3, 9:30 a.m. Central Time - Farmfest, Gilfillan Estates, Morgan, Minnesota
  • Saturday, August 5, 9 a.m. Pacific Time -  Modesto, California 
  • Wednesday, August 30, 8:30 a.m. Central Time - Farm Progress Show, Decatur, Illinois
If you're near one of these events and can take time to represent the grape industry with comments, please plan to attend!

NEW ARS NPL FOR GRAPES

Grapes have a new champion at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service.  Dr. Timothy (Tim) Rinehart began his new role as National Program Leader for Specialty Crops (including grapes) in Crop Production and Protection in the ARS Office of National Programs on July 24, 2017. Dr. Rinehart reports to Deputy Administrator Maureen Whalen and will be responsible for specialty crop research, including ornamentals, small fruits, tree fruits and nuts, citrus and sugarcane. 
 
Dr. Rinehart was previously a Research Plant Molecular Geneticist and Lead Scientist at the Southern Horticultural Research Unit in Poplarville, Mississippi. Prior to joining ARS, he worked in the biotech industry as an Application Scientist and Project Manager in Mountain View and Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Rinehart received a Ph.D. from the University of Idaho in Botany, and a B.S. in Biology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
 
Dr. Rinehart can be reached at  tim.rinehart@ars.usda.gov or 301-504-6252.

WASHINGTON: UPDATED RESEARCH PRIORITIES

The Washington State Wine Commission just released its new research priority list. Based on a statewide industry survey, priorities range from water use efficiency to vineyard and winery mechanization to fermentation management for wine quality and beyond.
NEW YORK VINTNERS VALUE RESEARCH

As the New York Wine & Grape Foundation explores a statewide R&D market order, it is creating videos of grower perspectives on research. In its most recent installment, featuring Finger Lakes wineries, Shannon Brock of Silver Thread Vineyard, says: "With all the uncertainties that lie ahead--between climate change and competition--we'd be really foolish to rest on our laurels. We have to keep competitive." View the video.

WELL-DESERVED AWARDS

At the American Society of Enology and Viticulture national conference, June 26-29 in Bellevue, WA, and its Eastern Section conference July 10-12 in Charlottesville, VA, some of the industry's most respected practitioners were honored for their outstanding contributions to the industry. Congratulations to:
*See award information on page 9 of the linked pdf


RESEARCH UPDATE

NO LONGER STUMPED BY TRUNK DISEASE TREATMENT

For the past five years, the NGWI-championed  SCRI Trunk Disease Project , led by Dr. Kendra Baumgartner (USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Davis, CA) with a team of eight researchers, has been  exploring trunk or wood-canker diseases, including Botryosphaeria-, Eutypa-, and Phomopsis-diebacks, and Esca. Trunk diseases severely impact productivity of vineyards of all types. But they can be treated and even prevented with high rates of success-IF they're treated.
 
The team's recently published papers focus on the practices growers use (or don't use) to prevent trunk diseases. They show that preventing wood cankers early can improve productivity, and extend the life of wine and table grapevines. In a report published late last year using young Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, Dr. Jonathan Kaplan, the economist for the project, found widespread benefits from early adoption, increasing vineyard profitable lifespans, in some cases, by close to 100%. However, as Dr. Baumgartner reported last month, despite the high likelihood of infection and substantial yield losses from trunk diseases, many California winegrape growers wait to adopt preventative practices until after symptoms appear, at around 10 years old.
 
Dr. Kaplan extended that work to table grapes, using economic figures from Dr. Franka Gabler at the California Table Grape Commission. Table grapes are susceptible, too, and not all management practices can be adapted from winegrapes. Still, the team found reason to treat the disease. When preventative practices are adopted in a 10-year-old Crimson Seedless vineyard, the net returns remain positive for years longer than when preventative practices are not used, extending the profitable lifespan of the vineyard by 2 to 14 years-a potential lifespan increase of more than 100%. Treating even earlier has additional positive effects.  Read the complete, just-published report.
 
The team also recently examined the economic benefits of vine surgery--the practice of cutting symptomatic vines off above the graft union and retraining entire new vines--in place of or in combination with preventative practices. Relying only on vine surgery alone is not recommended. Rather, combining a preventative practice (starting in year 3) and conducting vine surgery no later than year 14 can bring about greater overall returns and full vine lifespan.
 
Visit the project website at http://treeandvinetrunkdiseases.org  to meet the team and learn more.
 

IN THE NEWS


Little-Known Grapevine Disease Uncovered: Researchers Find Pestalotiopsis Growing from Maryland to Missouri
July 21, 2017 │ Wines & Vines
Working independently and in different states, Lucie Morton (a Virginia viticultural consultant) and Dr. Dean Volenberg (viticulture and winery operations extension specialist at the Grape and Wine Institute of the  University of Missouri) found grapevine diseases they couldn't explain. Ultimately, each identified the fungus Pestalotiopsis and are now working together to find causes and cures.

As California's Labor Shortage Grows, Farmers Race to Replace Workers with Robots

July 21, 2017 │ LA Times

California's $47 billion agriculture industry is trying to bring technological innovation up to warp speed before it runs out of low-wage immigrant workers. (Grapes and raisins are mentioned.)
 

Farm Bill Should Push Innovation, Farmers Testify

July 19, 2017 │ AgAlert
Investment in new technology, including robotics and mechanization, would ensure the future success of American agriculture, according to specialty-crop farmers who testified before the U.S. House Agriculture Committee the week of July 10.
 
July 18, 2017 | Agweek
Stephen Censky of Missouri has been nominated as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, a role that traditionally manages the department's day-to-day operations.
 
July 17, 2017 │ The Atlantic
Bodegas Torres in Spain's Catalonia region is celebrating its heritage by exploring ancient winegrape varieties long thought to be extinct. Climate adaptability, it turns out, is a happy side-effect.
 
July 12, 2017 | Western Farm Press
A two-year study by Matthew Fidelibus, University of California Cooperative Extension specialist, reveals that the length of canes and the positions of nodes on those canes appears to affect yields of dry-on-the vine raisin grape varieties. That, in turn, has implications as to the best time to sample berries for determining when to start cutting the canes and initiating the grape-drying process.
 
July 10, 2017 | Oregon State University Extension Service
Researchers at Oregon State University have cracked the code (genetically speaking) on crown gall disease.
 
Find these stories and more  on the NGWI Facebook page.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS

August 24-25, 2017
North American Grape Breeders Conference
UC Davis
 
November 14, 2017
Washington Grape and Wine Issues Caucus
Yakima, WA
 
November 29-30, 2017
USDA Agricultural Research Service Grape Research Workshop
Portland, OR
 
December 1, 2017
NGWI Year-End Board Meeting
Portland, OR
 
January 23-25, 2018
Unified Wine & Grape Symposium
Sacramento, CA
 
January 26, 2018
NGWI Annual Board Meeting
Sacramento, CA
 
February 6-8, 2018

February 20-21, 2018
Oregon Wine Symposium
Portland, OR
 
May 20-22, 2018
National Viticulture & Enology Extension Leadership Conference (NVEELC) 2018
Prosser, WA
 
Find all upcoming events on the NGWI website.